Two more suspects, including a boda boda rider captured on video carrying a large log during the fatal assault of Uganda Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongodyo, have been arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to ten. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala identified the latest suspects as Obed Mugwiisa and Joseph Owino, a security guard.
The arrests follow ongoing investigations into the suspected mob lynching of Gongodyo in Upper Naguru, Nakawa Division, last Friday. Police said Mugwiisa was identified through video footage in which he appeared wearing a yellow T-shirt and carrying a large log during the attack. Mugwiisa was arrested on Tuesday by fellow boda boda riders, who handed him over to the police. During interrogation, he led investigators to a local laundry where he had taken the yellow T-shirt he was seen wearing on the day of the incident. Kawala said the garment has been recovered as part of the exhibits.
The two suspects join Herbert Twinomujuni, Katsigazi Perigrino, Darious Tayebwa, Hannington Tugume, Elly Mondoni, Noordin Ssebagala, Rode Ayebazibwe, and Juliet Namukose, who had earlier been arrested in connection with the case. Gongodyo, 27, who also played for Stanbic Pirates Rugby Club, died after being attacked by a mob in Upper Naguru. He had been accused of snatching a bag, an allegation that has not been proven.
Videos circulating on social media show Gongodyo being assaulted by a group of people, including boda boda riders. In one video, he is struck on the head with a log while others continue beating him. He was later pronounced dead at Mulago National Referral Hospital. His death sparked widespread mourning within Uganda’s rugby fraternity and outrage on social media, prompting calls for swift police action. Investigators have since relied on CCTV footage and other evidence to identify suspects.
“Efforts are ongoing to identify, trace, and apprehend other individuals believed to have participated in the incident. The Uganda Police Force remains committed to ensuring that all those responsible are brought to justice,” Kawala said. The killing has reignited debate about the involvement of some boda boda riders in incidents of mob justice. Boda boda riders have frequently been linked to violent attacks on suspected criminals, often joining mobs without verifying allegations against victims.
Lawyer Stephen Kalali warned that participants in mob violence risk facing murder charges. He attributed the persistence of mob justice to declining public confidence in law enforcement and the courts, citing allegations of corruption and delays in the delivery of justice. “Some courts delay delivering justice to victims, and this keeps piling up anger among the public,” Kalali said. “So when someone who was robbed gets no justice from police or courts, and finds others beating a person over any allegation, he doesn’t ask questions but joins the mob.”
According to the 2025 Police Annual Crime Report, mob action accounted for 950 of the 4,238 murders recorded during the year, representing 22.4 per cent of all homicide cases. Police have repeatedly warned that anyone who participates in mob violence can be charged with murder. This version leads with the newest development (the arrest of Mugwiisa and Owino), then explains why the arrests matter, before providing the background and broader context. It follows a stronger hard-news structure-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
