Mpigi businessman drowns in river after losing Shs6m to betting

Mpigi, (UG): Residents of Kayabwe Town Council in Mpigi District, Central Uganda were over the weekend left in utter shock and grief over the mysterious death of a businessman in the area who reportedly drowned in River Katonga after losing Shs6m on a sports bet.

The deceased identified as Richard Muwonge, is said to have disappeared from the family members on Friday evening when he failed to recover the over shs6m he had spent at one of the sports betting facilities in Kayabwe TC.

Speaking to a local daily (Monitor) on Sunday, Kayabwe Village Chairperson, Mr Abdul Muwami revealed that Muwonge first had issues with his family members which led to a bitter quarrel on Friday evening before he disappeared, only to find his body retrieved from River Katonga.

His body was retrieved from the water on Sunday morning by the fishermen.

One of Muwonge’s family members, Mr Joseph Kamoga confirmed the chairperson’s statement and said that it is true, that his brother had a bitter quarrel at home after losing money at a betting facility.

“He later left on a boda boda but we did not know the direction he took. At about 7:00 pm on Friday we received the shocking news about his drowning,” Kamoga said.

Mr Abdulrahman Kamani, a close friend of the deceased on Sunday revealed that Muwonge came to him and explained that he had lost money but wanted Shs1.5m from his account to make ends meet.

“We have had an online business with the deceased (Muwonge) with some little money on our account. He approached me and revealed that he had lost money but wanted more money to conclude some deal,” Kamani explained.

“We went to a mobile money agent and concluded the transaction, and it was shocking to me that on the same day, he drowned in the river,” he added.

The body was conveyed to the Mpigi District Hospital Mortuary for further postmortem before handing it over to the relatives for burial.