Tension gripped Bihuru Village in Nyakabande Sub-county, Kisoro District, after angry residents allegedly set ablaze a man suspected of stealing a goat.
The deceased, identified as Valence Habumugisha, a man in his 40s from Rambura Village in Gasiza Parish, was reportedly caught red handed with the stolen goat. Locals claimed he had been behind a series of thefts in the area, which triggered the violent mob reaction.
Turimurugendo James, the LC1 Chairperson of Mburabuturo Village where the deceased resided, confirmed that Habumugisha had a long-standing reputation for theft in the community.
Mutolere Police Post OC, Ntakiruta Evarist, condemned the act of mob justice, urging residents to always report suspects to law enforcement authorities rather than taking matters into their own hands. He noted that police investigations into the incident are underway.
By press time, the body of the deceased had been transported to Kisoro Hospital for a postmortem examination as investigations continue.
