Former Armed Robber, Sobi Killed in Bloody Gomba Land Conflict

Paddy Sserunjogi alias Sobi, who previously masterminded armed robberies in Kampala before turning into a security informer, has been killed in a land dispute in Gomba district, central Uganda.

Police said the incident occurred at midday on Monday in Kibaale LC 1, Kigumba Parish, Maddu Sub-County.

According to a police report seen by ChimpReports, drama started unfolding when over 50 people armed with sticks, pangas and spears attacked another group of people who claimed ownership of the same land in the area.

During the fighting, Sobi was hacked to death. 

The land in question was bought by a one Kalisa of Rwandan origin at a cost of Shs 100m. 

Kaliisa paid a deposit of 20m in 2007.

“But it’s claimed that he bought it from the wrong person,” police said in a preliminary report. 

“Another group of people who claimed to be the children and grandchildren of the now late Paul Kibi led by Deborah Nagadiya and Barton Kiwewa emerged with land titles claiming the same land belongs to them,” said Police.

The matter went up to court but before it was sorted, one of the rival groups also brought other thugs from Kisenyi, Kampala to stay on the contested property.

Police said last night, Kalisa’s group hired people from other areas before meeting at the residences of his sons –  Rwabazingu, Fred Nyangabo and Rwakana where all the plans to attack the rival group (of Sobi) were discussed.

Police further said Kalisa’s group destroyed all the property found on the contested land.

“The same group is alleged to have killed more people though only one body has been recovered with  cut wounds on the leg and neck,” the police report added.

Despite progress made to address land-related legislative issues, the land sector in Uganda faces several challenges that include insecurity of tenure, overlapping and conflicting land rights, and glaring inequity in access to and ownership of land.

The struggle for the ownership and occupancy of land in Uganda often arises between relatives and siblings since the many parties in the family setting usually have competing interests in the same land.

Apart from being hired to brutalise people in land conflicts, Sobi had earlier confessed to engaging in acts of armed robbery in central Uganda.

Police have since increased deployments in Maddu Sub-county to address the tensions arising from today’s bloodbath.