Video footage from the incident appears to show Muyombya striking Gongodyo with a large wooden log during the violent confrontation.
Residents of Bukoto have identified one of the men seen in a widely circulated video of the fatal assault on Uganda Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates player Sydney Gongodyo as Obed Muyombya, a boda boda rider known at the busy Frobel stage along Bukoto–Ntinda Road.
The revelation comes as police continue investigating the mob attack that claimed the life of the 27-year-old rugby international, a tragedy that has deeply shaken Uganda’s sporting fraternity.
Video footage from the incident appears to show Muyombya striking Gongodyo with a large wooden log during the violent confrontation. Witnesses say the rugby player became the target of an angry crowd near Upper Naguru Community Village after a woman raised an alarm claiming her handbag had been stolen.
According to people at the scene, Gongodyo was surrounded and accused of being involved in the theft. In the footage, several individuals can be heard questioning him and demanding explanations about the missing bag.
Despite repeatedly denying any involvement, Gongodyo was subjected to a sustained assault. Witnesses allege that the violence intensified when he was hit with the heavy wooden object before being kicked and beaten by members of the crowd, including boda boda riders.
The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon in the bustling Bukoto area, a major transit corridor connecting Ntinda, Naguru, and central Kampala.
Family members have strongly maintained that Gongodyo was completely innocent. His father explained that the rugby player had merely been crossing the road when the real suspects reportedly escaped on a motorcycle after snatching a woman’s handbag.
“Sydney was crossing the road at the time the actual thieves fled on a motorcycle. When the victim raised an alarm, he was mistakenly accused and attacked by the crowd,” his father said.
Police later arrived and rushed Gongodyo to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
The death of the former Makerere University student has sparked widespread grief and outrage, particularly among rugby fans, teammates, and sports officials.
Over the weekend, players and supporters gathered at Kings Park Arena in Bweyogerere to honor Gongodyo, remembering him as a dedicated athlete, a humble teammate, and a respected member of the rugby community.
In response to the tragedy, Uganda Rugby postponed Black Pirates’ Premiership semi-final match and directed clubs across the country to observe moments of silence in his memory.
Meanwhile, detectives attached to Kira Road Police Station have arrested Noordin Ssebagala, Roden Ayebazibwe, and Juliet Namukose as investigations continue. Authorities are also pursuing several other suspects captured in the viral footage.
The incident has reignited concerns about mob justice in Kampala, where individuals accused of crimes are often attacked before law enforcement can verify the facts.
For many residents of Bukoto, Naguru, and Ntinda, the killing serves as a painful reminder of the dangers of misinformation, misplaced suspicion, and mob violence. What began as an allegation of handbag theft ended in the death of one of Uganda’s prominent rugby players—a loss that relatives, friends, and teammates believe could have been prevented.
