Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the death of Rugby Cranes player Sydney Gongody, who died after being attacked by a mob in Kira on Friday.
According to police, the suspects—two men and one woman—are currently detained at Kira Road Police Station as investigations into the incident continue.
Authorities said Gongody, 27, was allegedly assaulted by members of the public who accused him of stealing a woman’s handbag. However, police emphasized that the circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated.
“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 issued on Sunday.
Officers reportedly intervened during the attack and rushed Gongody to Mulago National Referral Hospital for treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Gongody was a forward for both the Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates and was widely regarded as one of Uganda’s promising rugby talents.
His death prompted the postponement of the Uganda Rugby Premiership semi-final fixture scheduled for this weekend between Black Pirates and Heathens.
Beyond rugby, Gongody was also pursuing his studies at Makerere University.
Earlier, Uganda Rugby Union president Godwin Kayangwe described Gongody’s death as a significant loss to Ugandan rugby, praising his dedication, discipline, and service to both Black Pirates and the national team.
During the 2025 season, Gongody played a key role in Black Pirates’ Premiership title-winning campaign. He had also travelled with the team to Nairobi last week for the Enterprise Cup final against Kabras Sugar RFC.
Investigations into the incident remain ongoing as police seek to establish the full circumstances that led to his death.
