Two suspected car robbers have been killed and another critically injured after a mob attacked them in Kakumiro District following the alleged theft of a vehicle from a resident in Nkooko Town Council.
The incident occurred at around 2am on Tuesday in Kamunsenene Cell after the suspects allegedly broke into the home of Wilson Kacwamba and stole his Mitsubishi Canter tipper truck, registration number UBN 177D.
Kacwamba said he had parked the vehicle inside his compound before going to bed. He discovered it was missing after stepping outside at around 2am and immediately alerted residents.
Residents reportedly mobilised and mounted roadblocks at several points across Nkooko Town Council in an attempt to intercept the suspects.
According to information gathered by Uganda Radio Network, the suspects were driving the stolen truck at high speed when they approached one of the roadblocks. The driver reportedly lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn several times.
Residents who gathered at the scene reportedly attacked the three occupants, beating two of them to death and leaving the third critically injured and unconscious.
Patrick Nyangabyaki, the LCIII chairperson of Nkooko Town Council, said police were alerted shortly after the incident and arrived at the scene.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson, said police retrieved the bodies and took them to Kakumiro Health Centre IV mortuary, where they are being held pending postmortem examinations and identification.
The injured suspect is also receiving treatment at the same health facility under tight security.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over vehicle and cattle theft in Nkooko Town Council.
In August, police in Kakumiro recovered three suspected stolen vehicles and four cattle following a pursuit of suspected thieves.
The operation followed a report received by Kakumiro Central Police Station that motor vehicles and cattle had been stolen from Nkooko Sub-county. Flying Squad detectives were deployed to track down the suspects.
Acting on intelligence that the suspects were travelling along the Kakumiro-Hoima Road, detectives mounted a roadblock along the route.
Two black Toyota Noah vehicles, registration numbers UBR 653Y and UA 602DA, reportedly approached the roadblock but their occupants allegedly refused to stop and attempted to flee.
Police officers fired several warning shots, prompting the suspects to abandon the vehicles and escape into a nearby bush. Four suspected stolen cows were recovered from the vehicles.
Police also pursued a Toyota Premio, registration number UAZ 353Q, which had reportedly been stolen from Nkooko Town Council.
Its occupants allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush after detectives intercepted them in Kisengwe Village. They reportedly evaded arrest despite several warning shots.
The latest incident adds to security concerns in the area, while police continue efforts to address reported cases of vehicle and livestock theft.
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