Police have vowed to track down all individuals involved in the mob killing of Uganda Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongodyo, warning that those who participated in the attack will face the full force of the law.
Speaking on the ongoing investigations, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said three suspects have already been arrested, while efforts to identify and apprehend additional perpetrators are ongoing.
“We have three suspects in custody, but there are more, especially those who actively participated in the attack. They cannot hide; we will get them,” Rusoke said.
“We are glad that the public picked a keen interest in identifying suspects. We have three, but there are more, especially those in active participation. They will be got.”
Sending a strong warning to those still at large, Rusoke added: “They can’t hide. We will get them.”
The police spokesperson condemned mob justice, describing it as unlawful and a serious threat to the rule of law.
He urged Ugandans to refrain from taking matters into their own hands and instead hand over suspects to law enforcement authorities.
“If it is necessary to arrest a suspect, that person must be surrendered to police without torture or any form of harm. Participating in mob action can lead to serious criminal charges, including murder,” he warned.
Citing the 2025 annual crime report, Rusoke said , mob violence remains a significant concern across the country.
He said that out of the 4,238 homicide cases registered in 2025, 950 were the result of mob action, representing 22.4 percent of all killings recorded during the year.
“It is not a good statistic. If 950 people out of all those murdered met their fate in the hands of mobs, it is an ugly statistic that should concern all of us,” he said.
The police spokesperson recalled previous warnings issued against mob justice, citing several incidents, including the December 2024 killing of Jacob Akankwasa, an employee of Kyambogo University, near Namugongo Catholic Shrine.
Rusoke noted that many victims of mob attacks are denied the opportunity to explain themselves or prove their innocence.
“When people are subjected to such violence, they lose the ability to defend themselves. The pain is too much for them to explain their side of the story. We believe Sydney was in such a situation and had no opportunity to say anything,” he said.
He emphasized that whether Gongodyo was involved in any wrongdoing or not, there was no justification for a mob to take his life.
“Under no circumstances should there be justification for taking a life through mob action. Even if you find someone with exhibits or evidence of a crime, hand them over to police,” Rusoke said.
The police spokesperson also cautioned against collectively blaming the boda boda industry for the actions of a few individuals allegedly involved in the attack.
“Let us not condemn the entire boda boda industry because some members behaved in a wanting manner. There are many good riders who should not be judged based on the actions of a few,” he said.
Rusoke acknowledged public concerns about criminality involving some boda boda riders, saying security agencies have undertaken engagements with the sector and are pursuing interventions that require cooperation from multiple stakeholders.
While pledging justice for Gongodyo, he reiterated that mob violence remains unacceptable regardless of the circumstances surrounding an allegation.
“We are cognizant that this is a matter of public interest and we shall do all it takes to ensure everyone involved is held accountable,” Rusoke said.
