Police in Kitgum District are investigating the death of 29-year-old Akem-kwene Rogers, who was killed by a mob on allegations of stealing a solar panel.
Rogers, a resident of Cam-cam cell, Padwong Division, Kitgum Municipality, was killed on Monday morning around 10:00 AM after allegedly stealing the solar panel from a local resident.
According to police reports, Rogers entered the home of Jimmy and took the solar panel.
However, a neighbor raised an alarm, leading to his interception by a group of residents. The mob then stoned him to death before authorities arrived.
Joe Oloya, the Aswa East Police spokesperson, confirmed that the suspects, including the owner of the solar panel, are currently in police custody. The body of the deceased has been transferred to Kitgum General Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Police statistics reveal a troubling trend in mob justice cases, with 1,016 reported incidents in 2024, slightly down from 1,039 in 2023. Most of the victims involved in these killings are suspected of theft, robbery, murder, or witchcraft.
Authorities are calling on collaborated efforts to avoid repeat offences and encourage community policing targeting the youth who resort to stealing as a means of survival.
