Bishop Odoki addresses the media at his residence in Ediofe. Photo by Godwin Abedican

By Godwin Abedican

Arua
The Bishop of Arua catholic diocese the Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki is appealing to the public to refrain from mob action a vice which he says is first spreading in many parts of the diocese. This comes in the wake of the public now administering mob justice to suspects especially those suspected of theft.

While speaking to the media from his residence on Thursday April 11, 2024, the Bishop said that, since there are laws in the country, it will only be right for suspects to be handed over to the relevant authorities. “We have laws in this country. If you find somebody in the wrong, let the law take its course, mob justice is really condemned. Even if you find somebody has stolen something, you should allow that person to be taken and prosecuted by court not by you. What is happening here is very appalling,” Bishop Odoki noted with concern.

Mob justice is an illegal practice. It’s a form of extra judicial punishment in which a person suspected of a crime or wrong doing is typically humiliated, beaten and sometimes undressed or even killed, usually done by a crowd.

Mob justice violates the basic human rights of the victims and undermines rule of law creating an atmosphere of fear and violence.
Bishop Odoki further says that, it becomes a concern to the church when mob justice is administered by Christians which is against the church teachings and God’s commandments

“We have the commandment which says “They shall not kill” that is very important. When you lay your hands on somebody and kill you have called upon yourself also a curse and punishment. I understand that it can be because of how people suffer to get what they have but let us labor to educate ourselves and apply the law as much as possible. I would say there are many causes to that but that does not excuse us from following the law,” the Bishop said.

He further calls upon the community to learn to sacrifice for the sake of changing the society. “To bring change people have to sacrifice. We need to sacrifice for our society. Our leaders need to stand very strong to see that the right thing is the way to follow. Mob justice cannot be supported,” Bishop Odoki said.

Currently, cases of mob justice are on the rise within the areas in the diocese especially Arua city with many being arbitrarily killed and some even burnt to death.
In 2019, Uganda government passed a law-making participation in mob justice or violence a punishable crime by law. According to the penal code, a person who participates in mob justice and kills someone commits murder and once convicted could suffer death.