KAMPALA — Police have opened investigations into the death of a man accused of orchestrating a rental fraud scheme after initially denying that the incident had occurred, a reversal that follows sustained public scrutiny and mounting pressure on social media.
The case, which dates back to June 2, resurfaced after members of the public continued sharing accounts alleging that a suspected fraudster had been assaulted by a mob after being apprehended at a branch of Diamond Trust Bank Uganda in Naalya.
At the time, the incident received limited public attention as national focus remained fixed on the killing of rugby player Sydney Gongodyo, whose death sparked widespread debate about the so-called mob justice and public safety.
For days, police maintained that reports linking a death to the bank incident were inaccurate. However, authorities have now acknowledged that the incident occurred and say investigations are underway.
According to Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the matter was reported at Kiwatule Police Station under Kira Road Police Division and registered under CRB 064/2026.
Police say preliminary investigations indicate that the complainant had been searching for rental property through the online marketplace Jiji Uganda when he was introduced to Fahad Lubega, 30, who allegedly presented himself as a property agent.
After inspecting a house in Kyanja, the complainant reportedly agreed to rent the property at Shs3 million per month and was instructed to deposit Shs12 million, covering rent and a security deposit, into a bank account registered in Lubega's names.
The transaction was allegedly made on June 2 at Metroplex Mall.
Investigators say the complainant later discovered that the property was not available for rent and was instead being offered for sale. Efforts to reverse the transaction reportedly failed because the money had already been withdrawn.
The complainant subsequently reported the matter to police and later received information that the suspect had been spotted at a bank branch.
According to police, by the time the complainant arrived, Lubega had already been apprehended. Authorities say the suspect later escaped from the bank while under the watch of a security guard, prompting members of the public to chase and assault him.
Police said Lubega was later recovered and taken to Kiwatule Police Station.
Although officers reported that he appeared weak, they said no visible signs of torture were observed at the time. He later died shortly after arriving at the station.
His body was transported to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination.
In a statement released after public pressure intensified, Diamond Trust Bank confirmed that its last interaction with Lubega occurred at its Naalya Branch on June 2 after concerns were raised regarding a transaction linked to him.
"The matter was reported to the Uganda Police, and he was subsequently taken into police custody for further investigations," the bank said.
The bank did not indicate in the statement whether the it was cooperating fully with investigators and extended condolences to Lubega's family.
Police have since condemned mob justice and warned against taking the law into one's own hands.
"The Uganda Police Force strongly condemns acts of mob justice and urges members of the public to hand over suspects to law enforcement agencies for proper handling in accordance with the law," Rusoke said.
Significantly, police also acknowledged that an earlier communication denying the incident was inaccurate, attributing the error to incomplete information initially received from Kiwatule Police Station.
The admission comes at a time when questions are being raised about the handling of mob justice cases, particularly following the high-profile death of Sydney Gongodyo, which thrust the issue into the national spotlight.
Investigations are now focusing on two parallel issues: the alleged rental fraud scheme and the circumstances surrounding Lubega's death after the mob assault.