Kampala, Uganda: Police have arrested two more suspects in connection with the mob killing of Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongodyo, including a man captured on video allegedly assaulting the athlete with a large wooden log during the fatal attack.
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to ten as investigators intensify efforts to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the killing that has shocked Uganda’s sporting fraternity and renewed national debate about mob justice.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson SP Rachael Kawala identified the newly arrested suspects as Mugwiisa Obed and Owino Joseph, a security guard.
According to police, Mugwiisa emerged as a key suspect after investigators reviewed video footage recorded during the June 5 incident in Upper Naguru, Nakawa Division.
“Mugwiisa Obed was captured in video footage wearing a yellow T-shirt and carrying a large log during the incident,” SP Kawala said in an update released on Tuesday.
Police said the suspect later led investigators to a local laundry facility where he had allegedly taken the yellow T-shirt he was wearing during the attack.
The garment was subsequently recovered and is now part of the exhibits being examined by detectives.
Investigators believe the recovered clothing could provide crucial forensic and evidential links to the case.
The arrest of Mugwiisa is expected to significantly strengthen the prosecution’s case, particularly because video footage circulating on social media appears to show some of the individuals involved in the mob attack.
Owino Joseph, a private security guard, was arrested separately as investigations widened to identify all participants in the incident.
The two suspects join eight others who were arrested earlier and are currently being held to assist with investigations. These include Ssebagala Noordin, Ayebazibwe Roden, Namukose Juliet, Mondoni Elly, Twinomujuni Herbert, Katsigazi Perigrino, Tayebwa Darlious, and Tugume Hannington.
Police say additional arrests are expected as investigators continue analyzing video footage, witness statements, and other evidence collected from the scene.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all those responsible for this criminal act are held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with the law,” Kawala said.
Gongodyo, 27, died after suffering severe injuries during a mob attack in Upper Naguru Community Village, Bukoto I Parish, Nakawa Division.
According to police, the athlete was allegedly attacked by a group of boda boda riders and members of the public who accused him of theft.
Officers responding to the scene found him critically injured and rushed him to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The death sparked widespread outrage across Uganda’s sporting community, with teammates, rugby clubs, sports officials and fans demanding justice.
Gongodyo was a player for Stanbic Black Pirates Rugby Club and a member of the Uganda Rugby Cranes national team. He was also a student at Makerere University and part of the Black Pirates side that won the 2025 Uganda Rugby Premiership title.
His killing has once again highlighted the growing concern over mob justice in Uganda.
Police statistics show that mob violence remains one of the country’s leading causes of homicide. According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, a total of 950 mob justice killings were recorded out of 4,238 homicide cases nationwide, accounting for 22.4 percent of all murders reported during the year.
Security officials have repeatedly warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that suspects should be handed over to police rather than subjected to violence.
Investigators say efforts are ongoing to identify additional suspects who appear in video footage and witness accounts. Ms Kawala has urged anyone with information that could aid the investigation to come forward as the hunt for more suspects continues.
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