Man Escapes Police Custody, Dies After Alleged Mob Beating in Kassanda

Tragedy struck in Kassanda District on Sunday when a 30-year-old man, Derrick Kasumba, alias Kalevu, died hours after escaping from police custody and subsequently being allegedly assaulted by a mob.

Kasumba had been held at Manyogaseka Sub-county Police Station facing charges of burglary and theft. He managed to escape around 9 a.m. on August 23 while being escorted to the police station’s toilet, reportedly evading Constable Aaron Nalyanya, who was guarding him. This escape led to a separate charge against Kasumba.

Approximately an hour after his escape, police received distressing information that Kasumba had been intercepted by a mob in Lwenyange Village and was being subjected to an assault. The Officer-in-Charge of Manyogaseka Police Station dispatched Constable Nalyanya to the scene.

Upon arrival, Constable Nalyanya found Kasumba being attacked by a group of individuals. The crowd reportedly dispersed upon seeing the police officer, leaving Kasumba with significant injuries. The officer assisted Kasumba onto a motorcycle and transported him back to the police station.

However, Kasumba’s condition had severely worsened by the time they reached the station. He was rushed to Kyansaswa Health Centre III for urgent medical attention but unfortunately passed away about 40 minutes after arrival.

In light of the circumstances, the police have opened a murder case, with the alleged mob beating being the primary focus of the ongoing investigation. Kasumba’s body was transferred to Mityana General Hospital for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Authorities are actively pursuing leads to identify and apprehend those involved in the assault and are cautioning the public against engaging in vigilantism.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/man-dies-by-mob-beating-hours-after-escaping-police-custody-5571556