Residents goes on riot after man dies in local bar

Uganda police in Lukaya Town Council in Kalungu district are investigating circumstances under which a 20-year-old man died in a local bar.

The incident occurred on Monday when Martin Ssenyonjo reportedly entered the bar at around 8:00 pm for a drinking spree.

He was unconscious by the time residents found him in front of the bar on Tuesday morning.

It was alleged that Ssenyonjo had died earlier sparking off a protest among his family members and residents.

Sarah Nanyanzi, the Kalungu Resident District Commissioner (RDC) said, the furious residents looted the bar of its valuables and set a Television and sound system on fire.

They further pursued Gladys Namaganda, the bar owner and her waitress Milly Nakirijja accusing them of being behind their colleague’s death.

Police were called to the scene to contain the situation. Vianney Birungi, the Officer in Charge of Lukaya Police Station, said that they arrested Namaganda and Nakirijja to aid the ongoing investigations.

According to the suspects, Ssenyonjo found some people in the bar who bought for him alcohol and a locally distilled beverage.

They said he drank himself to oblivion which could have caused his death.

“His colleagues helped him out of the bar and I closed the door at around 10: 00 pm. The next I heard that he had died in front of my bar,” Namaganda recounted.

According to Birungi, the suspects will be charged with operating a bar amid the lockdown, which violates the ministry of health guidelines meant to fight the pandemic as investigations continue to ascertain the cause of Ssenyonjo’s death.