Thief Handed Old Testament Punishment: Loses Hand on the Spot

Rachael Kawala

Police in Nsangi are investigating a shocking incident in which a suspected teenage burglar allegedly had his hand cut off during a night-time confrontation with a homeowner in Kyengera, Wakiso District.

Police in Nsangi have launched investigations into the circumstances under which a suspected thief reportedly had his hand chopped off during a robbery incident.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala, the incident occurred on Friday night at around 9pm in Kazinga Cell, Kyengera Town Council, in Nsangi Sub-county.

The suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile and resident of Kyengera, is alleged to have broken into a house in Mungo A Cell where he tied up household property and stole several items.

It is further alleged that after initially fleeing the scene, the suspect later returned to collect the remaining property when he was confronted by the homeowner.

Police say it is during this confrontation that the suspect was allegedly attacked with a panga, resulting in the loss of his hand.

“It is reported that when the suspect returned to collect the remaining property, he was confronted by the homeowner, who allegedly cut off his hand using a panga,” Kawala said.

The suspect was later rushed to hospital for medical treatment as investigations into the incident continue.

While police handle the matter as a criminal investigation, the dramatic nature of the incident has sparked public debate online, with some drawing parallels to the harsh punishments described in biblical scripture.

In the Old Testament, strict retributive justice was sometimes prescribed for wrongdoing. One frequently cited reference is Exodus 21:24, which states: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

Another passage often referenced in discussions of theft and punishment is Deuteronomy 19:21, which reads: “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

However, modern legal systems, including Uganda’s, are governed by due process and the Penal Code, which places the administration of justice squarely in the hands of courts and law enforcement authorities, not individuals.

Authorities have urged members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands as investigations into the Nsangi incident continue.

Police say further updates will be communicated once inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the confrontation are complete.