A respected football referee, 36-year-old Patrick Ngalamulume, known as “Ngalas”, has been lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Africa Soccer, Ngalamulume was accused of theft without any evidence and brutally killed on Tuesday, May 6th.
This violent act has raised serious concerns about security, lawlessness, and the public’s lack of trust in state institutions in the region, which is already plagued by unrest.
Patrick Ngalamulume was a well-known figure in Bukavu’s football community, respected for his fairness, integrity, and dedication to officiating under the Bukavu Urban Football Association (EUFBUK).
The mob attack occurred overnight in the Irambo neighborhood.
Witnesses reported that a baseless accusation of theft ignited the crowd’s fury, leading them to take the law into their own hands.
Ngalamulume was severely beaten before being set on fire in an execution-style killing witnessed by neighbors, none of whom could intervene. Emergency services reportedly did not arrive in time to prevent the tragedy.
This brutal killing is seen as a symptom of the increasing insecurity in eastern DR Congo, where armed rebel groups like the M23 have long destabilized the region.
In this power vacuum, mob justice has become a disturbing trend, with cities like Bukavu and Goma experiencing a rise in extrajudicial killings as citizens lose faith in the police and judicial systems.
Africa Soccer reported that the response to Ngalamulume’s killing has been swift and angry.
A local official emphasized the urgent need for restored law enforcement and a functioning judicial system, stating, “The government must act. This level of barbarity cannot become a norm.”
Sports officials, civil society leaders, and grieving residents are demanding an independent investigation, immediate arrests, and a commitment to ending the impunity that allowed this crime to happen.
The murder of Patrick Ngalamulume has deeply affected Bukavu’s sporting community.
His death is a tragic illustration of the consequences when justice systems fail and fear and frustration overcome humanity.
He is mourned not only as a referee but also as a symbol of what the nation risks losing if security and trust in public institutions are not urgently restored.
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