KAMPALA, UGANDA — Police in Jinja Road, Kampala, are detaining Ms. Jolin Dusabe Mutesi, a mother of five, following the death of her 2-year-old child, Nganwa Rugari, on Wednesday, April 2, under circumstances deemed unclear.
According to a police statement released on Sunday afternoon, the deceased child resided in Mutungo Zone 8, Nakawa Division, Kampala. “The Police at Jinja Road are currently investigating the tragic death of a two-year-old child,” stated ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Police Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Area.
“Preliminary findings indicate that on the evening of April 1, 2025, the child allegedly fell from the first floor of a building.” Ms. Mutesi, the boy’s mother, reportedly transported him to Kitintale Hospital, where he was examined and subsequently discharged with a recommendation for a CT scan.
However, ASP Owoyesigyire noted that the child was brought back to the hospital at approximately 5 a.m. the following day “in critical condition and was pronounced dead upon examination.”
Police have initiated a death inquiry and transferred the child’s body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination. “Initial observations revealed no visible physical injuries on the body,” ASP Owoyesigyire reported.
In a separate statement issued later on Sunday, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman Patrick Onyango announced the mother’s arrest, citing several key findings, including that “the window from which the child allegedly fell from, was found permanently closed”.
“When the police forensic team examined the child’s body at the hospital, they found no signs of trauma—no swelling, bleeding, injuries, or even a scratch,” a family member disclosed regarding the investigation’s progress. Ms. Mutesi is currently in custody at Jinja Road Police Station, assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Jinja Road District Police Commander (DPC), Superintendent of Police Patrick Opiyo, confirmed that Ms. Mutesi, 40, is being held at Jinja Road Police Station as police delve into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
A senior detective involved in the investigation confirmed that a paternity test is being conducted on the child.
The case has garnered significant attention due to an ongoing and acrimonious legal battle between Ms. Mutesi and her estranged husband, Chris Rugari, a diplomat. This includes a contentious divorce proceeding before the Family Division of the High Court in Kampala and unresolved questions regarding the child’s paternity.
Previous DNA testing on the couple’s three older children, aged 14, 12, and 10, revealed that two were not Mr. Rugari’s biological offspring. “On the day of the death of the Nganwa Rugari, he and his 12-month-old sister, who also reside with the mother, were scheduled for DNA testing as part of the ongoing divorce procedures,” sources close to the dispute revealed.
Detectives are now exploring the possibility that the child’s death was intended to conceal or postpone the scheduled paternity tests.
A family member recounted that immediately after the child was pronounced dead, Ms. Mutesi began contacting relatives and friends, urging them to come to the hospital and take the body to a funeral home.
“She was preoccupied with burial arrangements minutes after the child was pronounced dead and wanted the body moved from the hospital immediately,” the source added. However, Mr. Rugari’s relatives intervened, objecting to the removal of the body before a police examination, which is standard procedure in cases of accidental death.
The divorce proceedings initiated by Mr. Rugari cite infidelity as the grounds for dissolution of the marriage. According to a source close to the family, DNA tests conducted in 2023 on the couple’s first three children indicated that two were not biologically his.
Following these results, a court ordered DNA testing for all five children, including the two-year-old, who had not been tested previously. “The court then ordered DNA testing for all five children, including the deceased, who had not been previously tested,” the source confirmed. The test was reportedly scheduled for the afternoon of April 2, the same day the child was pronounced dead.
Police have affirmed that a thorough investigation will be conducted to uncover all circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.
