A quiet morning in Afya Ward, Northern Division, Mbale City, turned into a scene of horror and heartbreak on Wednesday when 18-year-old Jane Nambuya was brutally murdered in a violent robbery. The tragic incident, which occurred around 11 a.m. on June 11, has sent shockwaves through the community and renewed calls for urgent action against escalating urban crime.
Nambuya, a resident of Busajabwankuba Cell, was on her way back from buying charcoal when she was confronted by two young men suspected to be part of a growing network of smartphone snatchers. When she resisted handing over her phone, one of the assailants struck her in the neck with a sharp panga, inflicting fatal injuries.
“She screamed desperately for help,” an eyewitness recounted. “I saw her collapse in a pool of blood, and the man just walked away as if nothing had happened.”Promoted Content
Residents responded swiftly to the alarm. One suspect, a 17-year-old, was apprehended near a nearby trading center along the Mbale–Soroti highway. He was found with a blood-stained panga and the stolen smartphone.
However, before police could secure both suspects, a second attacker—identified by the community as Muhammad—was caught by a mob. In a grim turn of events, he was lynched on the spot in an act of mob justice, underscoring both the community’s anger and the fragile state of law enforcement response.
Nambuya succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Her body was later transported to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination to support ongoing investigations.
Local leaders and residents have expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity in Mbale, particularly involving idle and violent youth targeting unsuspecting civilians.
Abdu Karim Musungule, a local leader in the area, pointed out that the attack occurred during a time when most people were away at work, giving criminals an opportunity to strike without immediate resistance.
“This incident is a wake-up call,” Musungule said. “We need better community policing, faster emergency response, and tougher measures against violent crime. It’s unacceptable that young girls can be murdered in broad daylight for a phone.”
The tragic killing of Jane Nambuya adds to a worrying trend of violent street crime in Mbale City. Residents are now urging authorities to strengthen patrols, invest in youth rehabilitation programs, and restore public confidence in security structures.
Meanwhile, police say investigations are ongoing and have warned against mob justice, urging communities to hand over suspects to law enforcement for due process.
Jane Nambuya’s death is more than just a statistic—it is a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked urban crime, and a call to action for authorities and citizens alike.