Police in Kampala have arrested a key suspect in the mob killing of Uganda Rugby Cranes star, Sydney Gongodyo.
Obed Mugwisa, a boda boda rider who was captured on video wearing a yellow T-shirt and allegedly striking the deceased with a log, was arrested on Tuesday. His image had widely circulated on social media following the incident.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Racheal Kawala, confirmed the arrest and said another suspect, Joseph Owino, a security guard, had also been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigations.
According to Kawala, during interrogation, Mugwisa led detectives to a local laundry where he had taken the yellow T-shirt seen in the footage.
“The garment was subsequently recovered as part of the ongoing investigations,” Kawala said.
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to ten as police continue investigating the alleged mob killing.
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.
Police have assured the public that all individuals who participated in the attack will be apprehended and prosecuted.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all those responsible for this criminal act are held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with the law,” Kawala said.
She added that investigations are ongoing and that more arrests could be made as detectives continue analyzing video evidence and following up on leads provided by members of the public.
