Butebo District, Uganda – A tragic incident of mob justice unfolded in the early hours of March 7, 2025, in Bulyambwa B West Ward, Butebo Town Council, leaving one man dead and another fighting for his life. The deceased, identified as Wakida alias Funi, approximately 32 years old, was stoned to death by an angry mob, while Gadimba Asumani, 30, narrowly escaped with severe injuries.
The incident occurred at around 6:00 a.m. after the duo was allegedly caught fleeing with a stolen motorcycle. The motorcycle, a red Bajaj model UFX 130X, belonged to Bongo Tom, a builder who was working at the residence of Taliwako Paul in Budaka District. According to reports, Bongo Tom and his team had been laying tiles overnight and noticed the motorcycle missing at around 6:00 a.m. after taking a short rest.
Acting swiftly, Bongo Tom contacted Wato Company Ltd, a tracking service, which traced the motorcycle heading toward Butebo District. He then alerted individuals in Butebo, who intercepted the suspects along the Butebo-Pallisa road. Upon confrontation, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle and attempted to flee. However, an alarm was raised, and a mob quickly gathered, leading to the fatal stoning of Wakida. Gadimba Asumani managed to escape and sought refuge in a nearby house, where he was later rescued by police.
Police Response
The Butebo Police Station responded promptly to the incident, booking the case under SD Ref: 11/07/03/25. Gadimba Asumani was rushed to Butebo Health Center IV for treatment, while the deceased’s body was retrieved and taken to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem examination. The recovered motorcycle was secured as an exhibit at Butebo Central Police Station (CPS) for further investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the stolen motorcycle was being transported to Yazidi Kanene, a suspected accomplice in Kamenya Mugongo, West Ward, Butebo Town Council. Other alleged accomplices, including Waira Wayabire and Abdullah Mayinja, are being sought by authorities.
Condemnation of Mob Justice
This incident has once again highlighted the dangers of mob justice, which continues to plague communities despite repeated warnings from law enforcement agencies. Police have urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to instead report crimes to the authorities for proper investigation and prosecution.
The case has been linked to an earlier report of motorcycle theft filed at Budaka CPS under reference number 04/07/03/2025. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend all individuals involved in the theft and the subsequent mob action.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this violent event, questions remain about the effectiveness of local crime prevention measures and the need for greater public awareness on the dangers of mob justice. Authorities have called for calm and cooperation as they work to bring all perpetrators to justice.
