Tragedy struck Kibaale village, Kigumba parish, Maddu Sub-county, Gomba district, on Monday afternoon, as Paddy Sserunjogi, widely known as Sobi, met a violent end. The former criminal figure, once associated with the notorious Kifeesi gang, was allegedly attacked and hacked to death by enraged residents accusing him of forcefully acquiring land.
Katonga Regional Police Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police-SP Majid Karim, confirmed Sobi's demise, highlighting the challenges in obtaining accurate details surrounding the incident. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a conflict in which Sobi's gang damaged crops belonging to locals.
"Preliminary findings suggest that around 12:30 PM today, on a land belonging to Kalisa in Kibaale village, Kigumba parish, Maddu sub-county, Gomba district, a group of 50 people armed with sticks, pangas, and spears attacked another group, resulting in the death of one person," SP Karim revealed.
The land dispute centered around property owned by Kalisa, purchased in 2007 for Shillings 100 million, with an outstanding balance of Shillings 80 million left unpaid after the demise of the original seller, Paul Kibi. Sobi's group, allegedly hired by Kalisa to protect the disputed land, reportedly destroyed crops, leading to heightened tensions with Kibi's children, Deborah Nagadiya and Bartin Kiwewa.
"Legal proceedings were initiated, but before the case could be resolved, the second group brought individuals from Kampala Kisenyi to occupy and clear the land. During today’s (Monday) clash, different items, including food, utensils, and structures, were destroyed," Karim elaborated.
Sobi's body is currently undergoing a postmortem at Gomba Hospital Mortuary. In the wake of the clash, members of Sobi's gang, including Gerald Katumba, Andrew Mateka, and Dela Aliyu, sustained severe injuries.
Sobi's tumultuous history includes a shocking confession in 2017, where he admitted involvement in various crimes. Despite purportedly transitioning into a police informant during Gen Edward Kale Kayihura's tenure as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sobi continued controversial activities, allegedly commanding 'safe houses' and engaging in land grabbing missions.
His actions fueled the feud between Gen Kayihura and then Security Minister Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, with accusations of protecting gangs terrorizing Ugandans. Even after the change in leadership, Sobi persisted in his alleged involvement in land-grabbing operations, intimidating law enforcement officials, according to reports.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this deadly clash, questions arise about the broader implications of land disputes and the need for comprehensive resolution mechanisms to prevent further escalation and loss of life.
