Kampala, Uganda – Growing public outrage over the brutal mob killing of Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongodyo has reached the floor of Parliament, with some including legislators calling for a high-profile public trial of the suspects to send a strong message against the escalating vice of mob justice in Uganda. They want a trial similar to the one of Christopher Okello Onyum which was public and was completed in a matter of weeks.
The calls came during a plenary sitting on June 10, where Members of Parliament condemned the killing and urged government to take decisive action against vigilante violence, which continues to claim hundreds of lives across the country each year.
Gongodyo, 27, a forward for the Uganda Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates, was attacked and killed on June 5 in Bukoto, Nakawa Division, Kampala, after being falsely accused of snatching a woman’s handbag. Video footage that later emerged reportedly showed the actual suspect fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, raising fresh concerns about how quickly innocent people can become victims of mob violence.
Despite reportedly pleading for his life, Gongodyo was beaten by an angry crowd in a shocking incident that has sparked nationwide condemnation from the sports fraternity, political leaders, civil society groups, and members of the public.
During parliamentary proceedings, Omoro County MP Andrew Ojok Oulanyah described the killing as part of a wider national problem and urged government to strengthen its response to mob justice.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Ojok said, while calling for improved police response times and tougher measures to deter communities from taking the law into their own hands.
He further proposed that the suspects be subjected to a public trial similar to landmark criminal proceedings previously conducted in Uganda, arguing that a transparent and highly visible prosecution could serve as a warning to others who participate in mob attacks.
Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth also described the loss of life as tragic as lawmakers across the political divide condemned the incident and demanded justice for the slain rugby player.
The debate prompted Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to direct the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare and present a report to Parliament on the growing problem of mob justice and possible government interventions to address it.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Police Force has intensified investigations into the killing.
What began with the arrest of three suspects — Ssebagala Noordin, Ayebazibwe Roden, and Namukose Juliet — has expanded into a broader crackdown that has seen the number of suspects in custody rise to 11.
Among those subsequently arrested are Mugwiisa Obed, who police say was identified in footage carrying a wooden log during the attack, security guard Owino Joseph, and boda boda rider Henry Kabugo, who was arrested on June 10 following a joint operation involving police and boda boda leaders in Nakawa Division.
Police say investigations are still ongoing and more arrests could follow as detectives continue reviewing video evidence and witness statements.
In a series of public statements, the Uganda Police Force has strongly condemned mob justice, warning that individuals who participate in such acts can face serious criminal charges, including murder. The force has repeatedly urged members of the public to hand suspects over to authorities instead of administering punishment themselves.
The killing has also reignited national debate about the alarming scale of mob violence in Uganda.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, mob justice accounted for nearly a quarter of all homicide cases recorded during the year, with approximately 950 people losing their lives to mob attacks. The figures have alarmed lawmakers and human rights advocates who argue that the trend reflects declining public confidence in formal justice systems and persistent delays in law enforcement responses.
For Uganda’s rugby community, Gongodyo’s death represents the loss of one of the country’s promising talents. Besides representing the Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates, he was also a student at Makerere University and part of the Pirates squad that captured the 2025 Premiership title.
As investigations continue and more suspects face prosecution, many Ugandans hope the case will not only deliver justice for Gongodyo’s family, friends, and teammates but also become a turning point in the fight against mob justice.
Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist investigations to come forward as authorities work to identify and arrest all individuals involved in the deadly attack.
It should be remembered that Okello Onyum was convicted of killing daycare kids and sentenced to death.
As we have reported, not ready to die, Christopher Okello Onyum has appealed his death sentence, as reported Here.
Meanwhile, Uganda Prisons Commissioner General Byabashaija has made it clear that Christopher Okello Onyum will be hanged within 72 hours if President Museveni signs his death warrant. (See Details Here).
According to the law, if Christopher Okello Onyum’s appeal fails even in the Supreme Court, his fate will be in the president’s hands as Museveni can do three things to him, as detailed HERE.
You can read about When Museveni Threatened to Hang Death Row Inmates and Asked for Their List Here.
