Journalist Alex Mugisha. Photo/Courtesy
NBS journalist Alex Mugisha has shared a disturbing account of how he survived a mob attack in Wakaliga, Kampala, in an incident he says nearly cost him his life during a late-night journey in 2022.
His narration comes amid renewed public concern over rising cases of mob justice in urban areas, following the recent killing of rugby player Sydney Gongodyo, who was allegedly attacked by a mob in Kampala.
Mugisha says the ordeal began shortly after he arrived in Kampala from Mbarara at around 2am.
He was heading to Naguru for a scheduled meeting at his workplace when transport complications forced him to improvise his final leg of the journey.
“The person I had moved with was unable to drop me at my booked hotel that night,” he explained, noting that he opted to walk a short distance in search of a boda boda or ride-hailing service.
He says what appeared to be a normal late-night movement quickly turned into a life-threatening situation once he got off the vehicle.
“A few meters from where I got off the car, I noticed four people positioned in a way that looked suspicious. One of them approached me directly, and I immediately sensed danger,” Mugisha recounted.
He says panic set in as he ran towards nearby shops hoping to find safety, but the group pursued him.
The commotion attracted attention from other members of the public, some of whom joined the chase after hearing shouts of “omubbi wuuyo,” meaning “there goes a thief.”
“In seconds, people had surrounded me. I tried to explain who I was and what I do, but I was already being slapped and kicked,” he said.
Mugisha says the situation escalated as more people believed he was a criminal, despite his attempts to clarify his identity.
He recalls that the intervention of his work identification card became the turning point in the ordeal.
“I quickly showed them my work ID, and that is when some people started to hesitate. That document is what saved me,” he said, adding that it helped convince parts of the crowd to stop the assault.
He believes that without the identification, the situation could have ended in tragedy.
“If it wasn’t for my work ID, I would not be here today,” he reflected.
The journalist says the experience left him deeply shaken, with memories of the incident still vivid years later. His account highlights the dangers of mob justice and the risks faced by innocent people wrongly accused in chaotic situations.