NBS journalist Alex Mugisha has narrated a chilling encounter in which he narrowly escaped a mob attack in Wakaliga, Kampala, during a late-night journey in 2022.
His account comes in the wake of growing concern over mob justice incidents in Uganda, including the recent killing of rugby player Sydney Gongodyo in Kampala.
Mugisha says the incident unfolded after he arrived in the capital from Mbarara at around 2am, heading for a scheduled meeting at his head office in Naguru.
“I leave Mbarara very late and reach Kampala at around 2am,” he recalled. “The person I had moved with was unable to drop me at my booked hotel that night.”
According to his narration, the situation escalated rapidly after he got off the vehicle. He says he noticed several individuals positioned along the route in what he later interpreted as a coordinated setup.
“A few meters from where I got off the car, I find four people scattered strategically. One moves directly to me, I sensed danger,” he said.
Mugisha says he immediately ran towards nearby shops in an attempt to seek safety, but the individuals pursued him, drawing the attention of other people in the area. In the confusion, he was labeled a thief by members of the public.
“People grab me, I try to explain myself and what I do, but I was already being slapped and kicked,” he narrated, adding that bystanders joined in the assault after hearing shouts of “omubbi wuuyo,” a phrase meaning “here is a thief.”
The journalist says the situation only de-escalated when he managed to produce his work identification card, which helped convince some of those involved that he was not a criminal.
He credits the ID for preventing what could have been a fatal outcome.
“If it wasn’t for my work ID… I would not be here,” he said, reflecting on the ordeal.
Mugisha’s account adds to ongoing public debate about the rise of mob justice in urban centres, where suspects are often attacked before verification of facts or involvement of law enforcement agencies.
The journalist says the memories of that night remain vivid years later, underscoring the psychological impact of surviving such an ordeal.