A 28-year-old Arsenal fan has been shot dead by a distressed security guard after an Arsenal victory win against Manchester United in Kalungu district.
This tragedy happened in the wee hours of December 5, 2024, at a sports videohall in Lukaya town in the Lukaya Town Council, Kalungu district.
The deceased, identified as John Senyonjo, a local of Lukaya town in Kalungu district, was shot to death by Richard Oketcho, a security guard from Uganda Cares.
According to eyewitnesses, when Arsenal scored a second goal against Manchester United, the Arsenal fans were very excited and started blowing vuvuzelas and shouting at the top of their voices due to excitement, but this did not sit well with Oketcho, the security guard, and one of the managers of the sports video hall where they were watching the football match from.
The eyewitnesses added that the manager of the sports video hall, identified as Banda but commonly known as Musiramu, switched off the lights due to anger and called Oketcho to calm the football fans down; however, he did not succeed, which made him use his gun to shoot at the Arsenal fans, which ended tragically.
One eyewitness identified as Jumba Sahadi revealed that the Arsenal fans were just excited and doing nothing wrong and are still in shock for what Banda did because if he had not switched off the lights, the Arsenal fans would not have been riled up to make more noise.
Sahadia accused Banda as the person responsible for Senyonjo’s death because he is the one who called Oketcho to shoot at the Arsenal fans in order for them to keep quiet.
’’It is so sad that John’s life has just gone with the wind just because the other persons were distressed over a small matter of a match win, yet even the people they are killing themselves do not even know them,’’ Sahadi noted.
SP Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said that investigations are underway. SP Kasirye added that Senyonjo died on the spot when Oketcho fired gunshots at the Arsenal fans, and one other male was critically injured; however, he is at a hospital in Masaka receiving treatment.
’’Oketcho is currently on the run; however, a manhunt for him is underway. Additionally, police are also investigating to find out what really caused this shootout,’’ Kasirye disclosed.
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He further called upon security officers to stop firing at innocent people because it is against the law and punishable too.
In 2024, Uganda has witnessed several alarming incidents of football-related violence, reflecting the intense rivalries among fans and the tragic outcomes that can ensue.
On October 30, 2024, Benjamin Ndyamuhaki Okello, a 36year- old Manchester United supporter, was fatally stabbed by an Arsenal fan after a heated celebration following a Liverpool equalizer against Arsenal during a match.
