The late Joshua Leon Otim
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I A 16-year-old student, Joshua Leon Otim of Excell High School in Mukono District, has died following injuries he sustained during unrest in Gulu City on December 6, 2025.
Otim had been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, where he passed away on Tuesday afternoon.
According to his mother, Margret Acan, her son was attacked during the clashes involving a gang, police, and UPDF soldiers as National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters gathered to welcome the party’s presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, to the city.
“He was hit on the head and went into a coma. From that day, he never regained consciousness,” Acan said.
Otim’s body has been transferred to Gulu Military Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Police had earlier stated that investigations into the incident were underway. Several NUP supporters were injured during the chaos, including Kyagulanyi’s close associate, Daniel Oyirwoth, also known as Sir Dan Magic.
While there have been no official arrests linked to the attack on Otim, a social media user claiming prior knowledge of the incident offered a different account.
“He was beaten as a result of mob justice at night hours before the NUP rally. Three people have been arrested in connection to the incident,” the user alleged. “Two eyewitnesses recorded their statements, saying that he stole a phone.”
The police have not yet confirmed this version of events, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Uganda’s campaign violence history involves state-sponsored suppression of opposition, heavy militarization, brutal crackdowns on protests, arbitrary arrests, and killings, particularly evident in recent elections (2018, 2021).
This has lead to mass casualties and severe human rights abuses, institutionalized by laws like the Public Order Management Act, fostering a climate where political competition is strongly associated with conflicts.
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