Kampala, Uganda: Parliament has directed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to present a comprehensive report on the growing wave of mob justice incidents across Uganda following the brutal killing of national rugby player Sydney Gongodyo Gyabi in Kampala.
The directive was issued by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja during a plenary sitting on Wednesday, after Members of Parliament raised concerns over the increasing number of Ugandans being lynched by mobs on suspicion of criminal activity.
Gongodyo, a Rugby Cranes international and player for Stanbic Black Pirates Rugby Club, died after being attacked by a mob on June 5, 2026, over allegations of snatching a lady’s handbag in Bukoto-Ntinda, a Kampala suburb.
His death has sparked national outrage and renewed calls for stronger action against mob justice.
Responding to concerns raised by legislators, Nabbanja strongly condemned mob justice and pledged that government would intensify efforts to combat the vice.
“On behalf of government, I want to commit that we shall, using the police and all security agencies and intelligence, try to ensure that we stamp out this act of mob justice. The culprits should be brought to book,” Nabbanja said.
“I want to direct that the Ministry of Internal Affairs comes with a report so that we have this debated at length,” she added.
The Prime Minister cited a recent incident in Kakumiro District where a coffee trader was reportedly killed by a mob on suspicion of theft, saying the trend was becoming increasingly alarming.
MPs Demand Answers
The matter was raised by Omoro County MP Hon. Andrew Ojok, who described mob justice as a national crisis requiring urgent intervention.
Ojok cited police statistics showing that 1,039 people were killed through mob justice in 2023, while 1,019 people lost their lives under similar circumstances in 2024.
“We must condemn mob justice in very strong terms. I pray that the Minister for Internal Affairs gives us a report within seven days on what is happening in terms of investigations,” Ojok said.
He questioned why thousands of mob justice cases continue to occur despite the existence of law enforcement institutions. “Out of over 4,000 such cases, only about 1,000 are processed to their logical conclusion. We must discourage mob justice as much as possible,” he added.
Ojok also challenged government to explain police response times during emergency incidents. “When the police is called, they come three or four hours later. The person who is supposed to be presumed innocent under the law ends up suffering,” he said.
Referring to videos that circulated online following Gongodyo’s death, Ojok criticised how the victim was handled after the attack. “If you look at the videos, Sydney was bundled like a thief onto the police wagon. We want a strategy from the police and from government on what they intend to do about such incidents in the future,” he added.
Calls for Public Trial
Budadiri East MP Eng Hon. Julius Nakiyi called for a speedy and transparent trial of suspects arrested in connection with Gongodyo’s killing.
“This House should urge government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of the suspects through a public court at the scene of crime, just like it happened in Gaba after the killing of children,” Nakiyi said.
The call comes amid growing public interest in the case.
Police have so far arrested ten suspects in connection with Gongodyo’s death and investigations remain ongoing.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, mob justice remains one of the leading causes of homicide in the country.
Police recorded 950 mob justice killings in 2025 out of 4,238 homicide cases nationwide, representing 22.4 percent of all murders reported during the year.
Security experts attribute the trend to delayed police response, public mistrust in the justice system, low conviction rates and a culture of instant retribution.
Human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that mob justice undermines the rule of law and often results in innocent people being killed before investigations can establish the truth.
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