Police have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the mob killing of Stanbic Black Pirates and Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongodyo.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma confirmed the arrests through the police’s official X account, saying, “Five more arrests have been made. The number of arrests now stands at eight.”
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to eight, following the Sunday arrest of Noordin Ssebagala, Toden Ayebazibwe, and Juliet Namukose.
Gongodyo was attacked by a mob in Masulira Zone, Bukoto, Kampala, on Friday after being accused of snatching a woman’s handbag.
He sustained severe injuries during the assault and was rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries at around 7:00 p.m.
Addressing journalists at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, Rusoke said security agencies are determined to ensure that all those involved in the killing are brought to justice.
“We shall do all it takes to ensure everyone involved is held accountable,” he said.
Rusoke condemned mob justice, noting that it denies suspects an opportunity to defend themselves.
“When people are subjected to such violence, they lose the ability to defend themselves. The pain is often 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.
Police have since intensified the hunt for more suspects linked to the incident.
Gongodyo is scheduled to be laid to rest on Tuesday, June 9, in Sironko District.
