A third-year student of Bishop Barham University College Kabale, a constituent college of Uganda Christian University (UCU) has died after being stabbed in a bar brawl.

27-year-old Cleophas Rukundo, a student of Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration was stabbed in the wee hours of Sunday morning at New California T&J Transit bar and hotel, a popular night spot and a hub for sex workers in Kabale town.

According to police, Rukundo was drinking while dancing with a woman when he was surrounded by a group of revellers led by a one, Tom, a resident of Kigongi A cell in Kigongi ward, Central Division Kabale municipality leading to a clash.

Tom reportedly drew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Rukundo under his left armpit. Elly Maate, the Kigezi region police spokesperson, says Rukundo was rushed to Kabale regional referral hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to Maate, after the incident, Tom and his group fled into hiding. Police sealed off the hangout until further notice as investigations into the matter continue.

Rukundo’s friends said he’d gone to the bar to mark and celebrate the completion of end of semester exams on Saturday. Ronald Katungi Beinomugisha, the public relations officer of Bishop Barham University declined to comment on the matter, saying the university will issue a statement about the incident later.

This is the second such incident at New California T&J Transit bar and hotel in less than four months. Earlier in May this year, Stephen Kankiriho, a Uganda People’s Defense Forces soldier attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC) was stabbed at the same pub by Joshua Tusingwire, a driver from Ntungamo district.

Kankiriho who was part of First Lady Janet Museveni’s advance security team got into a fight with Tusingwire when he tried to forcefully grab a sex worker from him.