Parliament demands report on rising mob justice cases as concerns mount over Rugby player’s killing

By Our Reporter

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been tasked to present a comprehensive report to Parliament on the circumstances surrounding the increasing incidents of mob justice across the country.

The directive was issued by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja following concerns raised by Members of Parliament over the death of Uganda rugby player Sydney Gongodyo Gyabi, who was killed by a mob in Kampala on Friday, June 5, 2026, after being accused of theft.

Gongodyo was a player for the Uganda Rugby Cranes national team and Stanbic Black Pirates Rugby Football Club.

Speaking during the plenary sitting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Nabbanja strongly condemned acts of mob justice, describing them as unlawful and unacceptable in a civilized society.

The Prime Minister cited a similar incident involving a coffee middleman in Kakumiro District who was recently killed by a mob on allegations of theft.

“On behalf of the government, I want to commit that we shall, using the police and all security agencies and intelligence, try to ensure that we stamp out this act of mob justice. The culprits should be brought to book. I want to direct that the Ministry of Internal Affairs comes with a report so that we have this debate at length,” Nabbanja said.

The matter was raised by Omoro County MP Hon. Andrew Ojok, who expressed concern over the growing number of lives lost through mob justice despite the presence of law enforcement agencies.

According to Ojok, the Uganda Police Crime Report of 2023 recorded 1,039 deaths resulting from mob justice, while the figure stood at 1,019 deaths in 2024.

“We must condemn mob justice in the strongest terms possible. I pray that the Minister for Internal Affairs gives us a report within seven days on the status of investigations. Out of over 4,000 such cases, only about 1,000 are processed to their logical conclusion. We must discourage mob justice as much as possible,” Ojok said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of police response mechanisms, noting that delayed response times often leave suspects vulnerable to attacks by angry mobs.

“When the police is called, they come three or four hours later. The person who is supposed to be presumed innocent under the law ends up suffering. If you look at the videos, Sydney was bundled like a thief onto the police wagon. We want a strategy from the police and from the government on what they intend to do about such incidents in the future,” Ojok added.

Budadiri County East MP Hon. Julius Nakiyi called for a speedy and public trial of the suspects implicated in Gongodyo’s death.

“This House should urge the government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of the suspects through a public court at the scene of crime, just like it happened in Ggaba after the killing of children,” Nakiyi said.

Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth also weighed in on the debate, recalling a tragic mob justice incident in Iganga District where three individuals were lynched after being accused of kidnapping a young man.

The young man was later discovered alive and living with his long-lost mother.

“After a few days, they heard news that the young man was with his long-lost mother. How do you administer justice to those who are killed? Just until recently, some of the suspects were given about 15 years in prison, but is that adequate?” Oboth questioned.

The discussion highlighted growing concerns about the increasing prevalence of mob justice and the need for stronger public awareness, quicker police intervention, and more effective prosecution of offenders.

Meanwhile, Parliament also urged the government to intervene and support Ugandans reportedly stranded in South Africa amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.

Katikamu County South MP Hon. Hassan Kirumira informed the House that several Ugandans had sought refuge at Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria while seeking travel documents to return home.

“The Office of the Prime Minister and the line ministries need to reach out to the leadership of the Ugandan community in South Africa to find out the status quo. I pray that the Ugandan High Commission in South Africa processes travel documents for Ugandans who have the means to come back to their country,” Kirumira said.

Responding to the concerns, Prime Minister Nabbanja assured Parliament that Uganda’s diplomatic mission in Pretoria was actively monitoring the situation and working to ensure the safety of Ugandans living in South Africa.

“I want to condemn this act because we are all Africans. I pledge to bring an update to this House on what has been done, what we intend to do as government and whether we can repatriate our people as soon as possible,” Nabbanja said.

Parliament is expected to receive the Ministry of Internal Affairs report on mob justice in the coming days as legislators seek long-term solutions to curb the growing trend and protect citizens from unlawful acts of violence.