Police have arrested three people in connection with the murder of rugby player Sydney Gongodyo, 27, who was killed by a mob in Kira on Friday.
The suspects, two males and one female, are being held at Kira Road Police Station as investigations continue.
Police said the deceased was allegedly subjected to mob action by members of the public who accused him of snatching a woman’s handbag.
”Preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was allegedly subjected to mob action by members of the public who accused him of snatching a woman’s handbag. However, the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under active investigation,” police said in a statement on Sunday.
Gongodyo succumbed to injuries at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where officers who intervened had rushed him for treatment.
Gongodyo played for the Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates as a forward. His death forced the postponement of this weekend’s Uganda Rugby Premiership semi-final between Black Pirates and Heathens.
He was a student at Makerere University. Earlier, Uganda Rugby Union president Godwin Kayangwe described his death as a monumental loss to the sport, saying he had served Uganda with honour, discipline, and exceptional commitment through his contributions to Black Pirates and the Rugby Cranes.
Gongodyo featured in Pirates’ 2025 Premiership title win and travelled with the squad for last week’s Enterprise Cup final against Kabras Sugar in Nairobi.