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Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the death of Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates player Sydney Gongodyo following an alleged mob justice incident in Kampala.
According to a statement released by Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala on Saturday, the suspects have been identified as Ssebagala Noordin, Ayebazibwe Roden and Namukose Juliet. The trio is currently being held at Kira Road Police Station and is assisting police with ongoing investigations.
Preliminary findings indicate that Gongodyo was allegedly attacked by members of the public who accused him of snatching a woman’s handbag. However, police say the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under active investigation.
“Police officers responded promptly to the scene and rushed the victim to Mulago National Referral Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries on June 5, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m.,” Kawala stated.
The tragic death has sent shockwaves across Uganda’s rugby fraternity. Gongodyo was one of the country’s most respected rugby players and a key member of Stanbic Black Pirates. He was part of the Pirates squad that featured in last weekend’s Enterprise Cup final against at RFUEA Grounds.
His passing has triggered an outpouring of grief from teammates, clubs, fans and sports administrators, many of whom have paid tribute to his contribution to Ugandan rugby both at club and national team level.
Police condemned the act of mob justice and urged members of the public to allow law enforcement agencies to handle suspected criminal cases.
“We strongly condemn all forms of mob justice and reiterate our call to members of the public to report suspected criminal activities to the relevant authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands. Mob action undermines the rule of law and can result in the loss of innocent lives,” Kawala added.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and police have indicated that more details will be released as inquiries progress.
