Appeals court upholds death sentence for woman involved in mob killings

Arusha. The Court of Appeal has upheld the death sentence of Rhobi Chacha, a resident of Mara Region, for her role in the murder of two individuals accused of theft. 

Chacha, along with a group of nearly 50 people, was involved in a mob attack that led to the brutal killings in Nyarwana Village, Tarime District.

The incident occurred on April 28, 2018, when an angry crowd armed with machetes, bows, arrows, and spears captured and fatally assaulted the two victims.

Despite efforts by the chairman of Makende Village, Joseph Ryoba, to intervene, he was unable to stop the mob from carrying out the attack.

Chacha was subsequently charged with the murders of Marwa Ryoba and Otaigo Kinyang’ore. A panel of three judges—Barke Sehel, Lucia Kairo, and Amour Khamis—sitting in Musoma, delivered the verdict on February 25, 2025, in Criminal Appeal No. 362 of 2021.

After reviewing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the judges ruled that there was no dispute that the victims had died unnatural deaths. The central question was whether Chacha was responsible.

Justice Sehel stated that, as a first appeal, the court was entitled to reassess the evidence under Rule 36(1)(a) of the Court of Appeal Rules of Tanzania. 

Upon review, the judges found no merit in Chacha’s defence and upheld the trial court’s findings.

The prosecution’s case relied on the testimonies of three key witnesses and forensic evidence. 

The third witness testified that he saw Chacha among the mob wielding a machete and personally striking the victims. 

The court determined that Chacha had been positively identified at the crime scene.

“The prosecution’s evidence was strong and proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” Justice Sehel ruled. “The appeal lacks merit, and the sentence stands.”

Case background

The appeal stemmed from a judgment by the Musoma Resident Magistrate’s Court on June 2, 2021. 

The court had granted extended jurisdiction to hear the murder case, following an incident in which a mob took the law into their own hands.

On the day of the attack, the chairman of Nyarwana Village, John William, reportedly called Ryoba, informing him of the situation. 

A group of villagers had surrounded Chacha’s unfinished house, armed with traditional weapons. 

When local authorities arrived, they broke into the house and detained the two men accused of theft. 

However, as they were being escorted to the village office, Chacha allegedly urged the crowd to execute them. 

The enraged mob responded by attacking the suspects with stones, machetes and spears.

According to witness testimony, one victim, Marwa, attempted to escape to a nearby house but was pursued and killed on the spot.

The second victim, Otaigo, was dragged from his hiding place and fatally assaulted.

A medical examination confirmed that both men died from severe blood loss and multiple deep cuts, particularly to the head and neck.

Defence rejected

Chacha denied the charges, claiming he was not at the scene when the attack occurred. He stated that he had traveled to another village at the time.

However, the court dismissed his defence, noting that he failed to provide any evidence to support his claim.

Having been positively identified by a key witness, Chacha was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.

During the appeal, Chacha was represented by lawyer David Mahemba, while the prosecution was led by Senior State Attorneys Charles Kagirwa and Janeth Kisibo.

Chacha’s appeal argued that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

However, the Court of Appeal found otherwise and upheld the initial conviction and sentence.