Jolin Dusabe Mutesi, a 40-year-old mother of five, has been arrested by Kampala’s Jinja Road Police on suspicion of killing her 2-year-old son, Nganwa Rugari, who died under unclear circumstances on April 2, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred on April 1, when Mutesi reportedly rushed her son to Kitintale Hospital after he allegedly fell from the first floor of a building. The child was initially examined and discharged with a recommendation for a CT scan. However, just hours later, the child was brought back to the hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead.
According to Deputy Police Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Area, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the child’s body showed no visible physical injuries, which raised suspicions about the cause of death. Further investigation revealed that the window from which the child was said to have fallen was found permanently closed.
In light of this, police launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nganwa’s death and transported the body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem. Police forensic teams found no signs of trauma, including no swelling, bleeding, or scratches, which deepened the mystery surrounding the death.
A family member claimed that Mutesi seemed overly focused on making burial arrangements, requesting that the body be removed from the hospital immediately after her son’s death was confirmed. When the boy’s father’s relatives arrived, they resisted her plan to remove the body before police could conduct their investigation, as required in accidental death cases.
Mutesi’s arrest has raised more questions, especially given the ongoing legal dispute between her and her estranged husband, Chris Rugari, a diplomat. The couple is involved in a contentious divorce proceeding in the Family Division of the High Court in Kampala. Recent DNA testing on three of their older children revealed that two of them were not Mr. Rugari’s biological children, prompting further DNA testing on all five children, including Nganwa.
Sources close to the family revealed that the DNA test for Nganwa was scheduled for April 2, the same day he was found dead. Detectives are now investigating whether his death was related to the ongoing paternity dispute, with suspicions that it may have been a desperate act to delay or cover up the results.
As the investigation continues, police are determined to uncover the full circumstances behind the toddler’s death and will leave no stone unturned. Mutesi remains in custody at Jinja Road Police Station, assisting with the ongoing inquiry.
