Shock and grief have gripped the Democratic Republic of Congo following the brutal killing of football referee Patrick Ngalamulume in Bukavu, located in the troubled eastern region of the country.
The 36-year-old, widely known as “Ngalas,” was lynched and set on fire by a mob in the Irambo neighborhood during the night of May 5 to 6. The crowd accused him of theft—a charge that remains unverified.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack unfolded in public, with dozens of onlookers witnessing the assault. The mob beat Ngalamulume before setting him ablaze, while neither police nor emergency services intervened.
“It was terrifying. People were too afraid to intervene. The fury was overwhelming,” said one witness, who requested anonymity out of fear for their safety.
Ngalamulume, a respected official affiliated with the Bukavu Urban Football Association (EUFBUK), had no known criminal background and was praised for his integrity and fairness on the field.
His death has sent shockwaves through the local football community and beyond.
“We haven’t just lost a referee—we’ve lost a man committed to fairness and justice,” said a senior EUFBUK official. “It’s devastating to see him denied the very principles he stood for.”
In a statement, the Football Association condemned the killing in the strongest terms:
“We are outraged and heartbroken by the barbaric murder of Patrick Ngalamulume. We demand that those responsible be held accountable and that trust in the rule of law be restored.”
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) also expressed its condolences and called for unity:
“Football should bring people together. It should never become a casualty of lawlessness.”
The incident highlights the worsening security crisis in eastern DR Congo, where armed groups such as M23 have eroded state authority, and mob justice has become alarmingly frequent.
“This kind of brutality cannot become normalized,” warned a Bukavu official. “The justice system is failing, and people are turning to violence.”
Bukavu and nearby Goma have seen a troubling rise in similar acts of vigilante violence, exposing the cracks in an overstretched legal and law enforcement system.
Civil society leaders, sports authorities, and local officials are demanding an independent investigation, swift arrests, and urgent reforms to prevent further chaos.
The death of Patrick Ngalamulume is not just a tragedy—it’s a stark warning of the consequences when justice is abandoned. His legacy now calls for accountability, reform, and a recommitment to protecting every citizen under the law.
