Mpala Resident Killed in Boda Boda Attack

Kampala Metropolitan Area police are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Fred Golooba alias Kayinja, a carpenter and resident of Mpala in Katabi town council in Wakiso district. Golooba was attacked on a Boda boda cycle on Monday night.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Area Police Deputy Spokesperson, says that police are investigating to establish whether Golooba was a victim of mob justice or a robbery suspect since the motorcycle he was using was stolen some time back.

According to Owoyesigyire, a suspect identified as Sulait Makumbi has told police that he was with Golooba when he was killed. "He crossed Lake Victoria with the deceased on a boat to Buwaya Landing site and when they reached Kasanje Town Council, they hired a Boda boda to take them to Namutamala village in Mpigi to visit a witchdoctor," the police publicist said.

He explains that on their way, they were attacked by a mob, which probably thought the two men had stolen the motorcycle. Makumbi, 35, is a radio technician and resides in Ssazi, Kasanje town council in Wakiso district. Albert Mugambwa, the Mpala Area LC I Chairperson, says that preliminary investigations show that Golooba hired a  boda boda which carried him and another passenger from the Buwaya landing site to Kasanje Town Council.

Joseph Musunku, a resident of Abaita Ababiri narrates that at Kasanje, Golooba and Makumbi got another rider who asked his friend to sit behind the duo. "I think the rider did not trust Golooba and Makumbi. They left Kasanje town council. As they approached Katende, they were blocked by three men holding big sticks. They hit the Boda boda rider who jumped off and fled the scene. Golooba was hit on the head and died on the spot while two other passengers sustained major injuries. Makumbi escaped without any injuries. The boda boda was stolen," he said. 

According to Mugambwa, Makumbi is currently in police custody to aid in investigations. "I think that suspect knows who attacked his colleagues and stole the boda boda," he said. He says that Golooba was last seen in Abaita Ababiri at 7 PM. Mugambwa says that he learned about the matter on Tuesday morning after one of the residents called him around 2 am.

"I advise residents to stop moving very late at night because criminals are not sleeping. They are taking advantage of dark spots and poorly lit areas to rob and kill people," he said. He noted that police officers picked up Golooba's body from the roadside in Kasanje and took it to the City Mortuary for a postmortem.

"The other two passengers were taken to hospital as investigations are ongoing," Mugambwa said. Shaban Isabirye, a resident of Abaita Ababiri eulogizes Golooba as a thorough carpenter and honest man. "He did some carpentry work at my house to satisfaction. And I knew him as a humble man. It is sad and shocking to see someone I know was brutally murdered," he said.