Lira City: 25-year-old killed after second failed attempt at stealing from the same home

Police in Lira City West Division are investigating a suspected case of murder by mob which happened on the night of August 24, 2026, at unknown hours in

Obutuwelo A Cell, Ojwina Ward C, Lira City West Division.

SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, PRO of North Kyoga Region, identified the deceased as Alany Gerald, 25. He was self-employed and a resident of the area mentioned above.

Preliminary findings indicate that during the night of August 24, the deceased and others went to the home of a yet-to-be-identified person located in Obutuwelo A Cell, Ojwina Ward C, Lira City West Division and broke into the dwelling house.

At that time, the occupants were sleeping. Alany and his colleagues managed to steal household items and later transported them away.

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“As if that wasn’t enough, the deceased and his colleagues again went back to the same place for more items,” SP Okema said on Tuesday.

“However, he was arrested by the owner of the said house while his colleagues escaped.”

Alany was beaten by the home people, and later a group of other community members joined, killing him instantly. His body was dumped in the middle of the road, according to SP Okema.

A team of police officers under the command of the OC Station immediately responded to the scene with SOCO and homicide officers.

The scene was processed and documented by SOCO, while relevant statements were also recorded.

The body was retrieved from the scene and conveyed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary pending postmortem examination.

“No arrest has been made yet, but efforts to pick some suspects are ongoing,” said the PRO, adding, “It’s quite unfortunate that members of the public have continued to take the law into their own hands.”

The North Kyoga Regional Police appeal to community members not to take the law into their own hands, but to apprehend the suspects and hand them over for investigation and possible prosecution before the court of law.

The law

Under Section 189 of Uganda’s Penal Code Act, participating in a mob that kills someone is classified as murder.

Individuals convicted of mob murder face severe penalties, including capital punishment like the death penalty.