Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentences for 6 Mob Justice Convicts
The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and sentence of six people, including a husband and wife, convicted of participating in mob justice that led to the death of one Patrick Tenywa.
In a unanimous decision by a coram of five Justices: Mike Chibita, Elizabeth Musoke, Christopher Madrama Izama, Catherine Bamugemereire and Monica Mugenyi, the court found that the six had indeed participated in the murder of Tenywa following a land wrangle.
Lwamaza Eronda John who died in prison before the appeal could be heard, Batendera Mathias (husband to Mukoda Frances), Waiswa Yoweri, Kako Alice, Yahya Muganza and Nabirye Jesca and Mukoda Frances appealed against the Court of Appeal decision to uphold the ruling of the high court that had sentenced them to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of murdering Tenywa.
Tenywa who was a resident of Bulwamaza Zone, Kitayunjwa Sub-County in Kamuli District, was killed by a mob on March 13, 2013 after it attacked him at his home. The mob that numbered over 30 was enraged with Tenywa after he had won a court case on the ownership of land in the village.
Many of those who participated in the mob were part of those who had lost the court case.They destroyed the planted boundary marks which prompted Tenywa to open up a court case which led to the arrest of some of the residents.
This angered the rest of the village who decided to lynch him. In their appeal, the seven objected to identification evidence, arguing that Tenywa’s wife and child could not have properly identified them at that distressing moment.
However, in their ruling, the justices rejected this argument.
In a unanimous decision by a coram of five Justices: Mike Chibita, Elizabeth Musoke, Christopher Madrama Izama, Catherine Bamugemereire and Monica Mugenyi, the court found that the six had indeed participated in the murder of Tenywa following a land wrangle.
Lwamaza Eronda John who died in prison before the appeal could be heard, Batendera Mathias (husband to Mukoda Frances), Waiswa Yoweri, Kako Alice, Yahya Muganza and Nabirye Jesca and Mukoda Frances appealed against the Court of Appeal decision to uphold the ruling of the high court that had sentenced them to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of murdering Tenywa.
Tenywa who was a resident of Bulwamaza Zone, Kitayunjwa Sub-County in Kamuli District, was killed by a mob on March 13, 2013 after it attacked him at his home. The mob that numbered over 30 was enraged with Tenywa after he had won a court case on the ownership of land in the village.
Many of those who participated in the mob were part of those who had lost the court case.They destroyed the planted boundary marks which prompted Tenywa to open up a court case which led to the arrest of some of the residents.
This angered the rest of the village who decided to lynch him. In their appeal, the seven objected to identification evidence, arguing that Tenywa’s wife and child could not have properly identified them at that distressing moment.
However, in their ruling, the justices rejected this argument.
The court also rejected the appellants’ contention that even if they had been part of the mob justice, the sentence of life imprisonment would be manifestly harsh compared to sentences given to convicts on the same offence.
But in their ruling, the Justices observed that the laws governing the judiciary bar the appealing of the severity of the sentence in the Supreme Court.
But in their ruling, the Justices observed that the laws governing the judiciary bar the appealing of the severity of the sentence in the Supreme Court.
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