Casablanca Bar in Mukono has suspended its operations indefinitely following the mysterious death of Trevor James Byandala, a first-year student at Uganda Christian University (UCU).
Byandala, who was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics Management, was found dead on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, two weeks after being reported missing. The exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
The Mukono branch of Casablanca Bar is owned by Tesfalem Gherahtu Ogbagiorgis, a former employee at the Eritrean Embassy in Uganda.
Ogbagiorgis, who also owns Casablanca Bar and Restaurant in Kololo, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the closure.
The bar, once popular among UCU students for socializing, drinking, and smoking shisha, has seen a sharp decline in patronage since Byandala’s death. Many students have distanced themselves from the venue, leading to its closure.
According to UCU Guild President Samantha Mwesigye, Byandala was confirmed dead at Casablanca Bar, with the incident reported to the police on 16 January at 3:00 PM.
Police retrieved his body from the premises and conducted a post-mortem examination before initially burying him in a city cemetery. His family later reclaimed his remains for reburial at their home.
Authorities arrested five bar employees, including an Eritrean manager and a university bar promoter, in connection with the incident.
The suspects were detained at Mukono Police Station but were later released on police bond.
Investigators are now probing why Casablanca Bar failed to promptly notify the university and delayed reporting the incident to the authorities.
A further point of concern is the reported malfunctioning of the bar’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the specific area where Byandala was found, while other cameras at the premises remained operational.
Sources within the police indicate that the suspects claim Byandala arrived at the bar already intoxicated and under the influence of other substances allegedly consumed at another establishment, ‘The Hive Lounge.’
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek clarity on the circumstances leading to the student’s tragic death.
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