There is an increase in acts of mob justice and the people taking the law in their own hands. Many ugandans have become the judges and the jury.
What causes mob justice?
According to a UHRC 2018 report, mob justice is caused by a number of issues, which include the following;
Delayed police investigations. Police has lost credibility in expediting criminal investigation including those that are not highly classified.
Delayed prosecution of cases, especially those involving land. Justice delayed is justice denied. This has made people loose hope in our justice system.
High levels of unemployment, especially among the youth, which makes them idle
Continued use of narcotic drugs by the youth, giving them a false sense of belief and entitlement
Weak local councils, which fail to ably and properly preside over conflicts in the communities
Ignorance by the general public on the rights of the suspects to apply and be granted bond/bail since they cannot be held in police custody longer than 24 hours.
Every person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. You cannot understand the danger of mob justice until your own is killed simply because he was in a bad place at a wrong time.
I call upon every person to sease and desist from acts of mob justice. The police and the D.P.P should work on the best ways possible to win back the general public's confidence and trust.