According to the charge sheet, the accused, together with others still at large, allegedly murdered Gongodyo on June 5, 2026, along Upper Naguru East Road in Kampala with malice aforethought.
Four men accused of participating in the killing of Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongodyo Gyabi have been remanded to Luzira Prison as investigations into the incident continue.
The suspects, identified as Obed Mugwisa, 39, a boda boda rider; Elly Mondoni, 33, a delivery agent; Joseph Owino, 30, a private security guard; and Henry Kabugo, 21, also a boda boda rider, appeared before the City Hall Court on Friday.
Presiding over the case, Grade One Magistrate Edgar Karakire informed the accused of the murder charge against them but did not allow them to enter pleas since murder is a capital offence that falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
“This court does not have jurisdiction to try your case because it is capital in nature. You will remain on remand as investigations continue and until the matter is committed to the High Court for trial,” Karakire ruled.
The four were remanded to Luzira Prison until June 23, 2026, when the case will return to court for mention.
Prosecution, led by Grace Akite, told the court that investigations are still ongoing and that authorities are pursuing other suspects believed to have participated in the attack.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, together with others still at large, allegedly murdered Gongodyo on June 5, 2026, along Upper Naguru East Road in Kampala with malice aforethought.
Police investigations indicate that the 27-year-old rugby player was attacked by a mob after being falsely accused of stealing a woman’s handbag in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb. He was reportedly beaten by a crowd before police officers intervened and rushed him to Mulago National Referral Hospital for treatment.
Despite efforts to save his life, Gongodyo later succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the attack.
His death sent shockwaves through Uganda’s rugby fraternity and beyond. Gongodyo was a forward for Uganda’s national rugby team, the Rugby Cranes, and a player for Stanbic Black Pirates Rugby Club. Following the tragic incident, Uganda Rugby Premiership semi-final matches were postponed in his honour.
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Uganda Rugby Union President Godwin Kayangwe described Gongodyo’s death as a monumental loss to Ugandan rugby, paying tribute to his contribution to the sport both at club and national team level.
Police have vowed to ensure that all those involved in the killing are brought to justice, with efforts underway to identify and apprehend additional suspects.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over mob justice in Uganda, where individuals suspected of wrongdoing are often subjected to violent attacks before investigations are conducted. Security agencies have repeatedly warned the public against taking the law into their own hands, noting that innocent people can become victims of false accusations and unlawful acts of violence.
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