Catholic Priest in Masaka, Uganda, Charged With Murder in Lynching of Suspected Thief

Father Richard Mugisha of Bisanje Catholic Parish, Masaka Diocese, in Uganda, has been summoned in connection with the death of a suspected thief, according to a report by The Independent. The report’s headline describes Mugisha as charged with murder, but the body of the report says he was summoned and does not describe any charge being filed. No court has ruled on his responsibility.

The report says the incident began on a Wednesday night, when a suspect broke the window of Mugisha’s car and hid inside. Ronald Kyeyune, a resident of Bisanje village in Kimanya-Kabonera division, Masaka city, was caught by members of the village security group. The report says a mob then beat him severely, leaving him in critical condition, and that police were called to the scene to take custody of him.

According to the report, police did not take the injured man to hospital but held him in a cell, and he died late that night. His body was taken to Masaka regional referral hospital, where a postmortem is reportedly being conducted. Investigations have begun under General Inquiry File GEF: 177/2021. The report notes that the reason police did not take him to hospital remains unclear. The lesson is that the injured must be protected and not left without care (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Based on preliminary police investigations, the report states that it is alleged the mob acted on Mugisha’s command to lynch the suspect. The report does not say that this allegation has been proven. Mugisha’s account, as reported, is that the community vigilante group arrested Kyeyune and handed him over to police while he was still alive, and that it was the police’s responsibility to take him to hospital. He also says he wanted to learn the motive behind the suspect’s actions and was only later told that Kyeyune had died in police custody.

Mugisha was expected to return to Masaka police station on Friday for further questioning. He was represented by his lawyer, Alexander Lule. Muhammad Nsubuga, the southern regional police spokesperson, said investigations are ongoing and that he could not say much because doing so might jeopardise the inquiries.

The report also states that Mugisha had become prominent in the region through controversial remarks about President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership and by urging Ugandans to vote for change in the 2021 general elections. It adds that he publicly criticised Brig Deus Sande, commander of the UPDF Armoured Brigade Unit in Masaka, after Sande said the army was not ready to hand over power to Robert Kyagulanyi, the National Unity Platform leader, should he win the elections.

According to Fr. Ronald Mayanja, the Masaka Diocesan Spokesperson, diocesan leadership is aware of Mugisha’s situation and is prepared to stand with him during this difficult time.

Source: Read the original report