A dramatic viral video depicting a man menacing restaurant patrons with a panga, which caused widespread alarm across Kampala, has been definitively debunked by the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) as a poorly conceived comedy skit. The incident, initially perceived as a serious crime, was a deliberate act staged by content creators at Munyonyo Chez Boss Mutoto.
The alarming footage, which quickly circulated on social media, showed a man wielding a panga in a restaurant setting, appearing to threaten customers. This prompted a swift investigation by the Kampala Metropolitan Police to ascertain the authenticity and severity of the threat.
However, KMP’s findings revealed that the entire scene was a theatrical performance. It involved Tokosi Ngoli, a Congolese national, and a TikToker who collaborated to produce the “comedy” content. Crucially, not all customers present at the restaurant were aware of the staged nature of the incident, leading to genuine distress and the video’s viral spread under false pretenses.
As a result of the investigation, Tokosi Ngoli was arrested and subsequently charged with being armed in public. His case file has since been forwarded to the State Attorney for further action.
Police are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when consuming and sharing online content, emphasizing that this particular video does not represent a real criminal act. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for misinformation and the need to verify content sources before dissemination.
