KAMPALA — Ugandan police have launched an intensive investigation into the suspicious death of two-year-old Nganwa Rugari, whose passing has become the center of a growing storm involving a court-ordered DNA test, a high-profile divorce, and allegations of a possible cover-up.
The child’s mother, Joline Dusabe Mutesi, a 40-year-old resident of Mutungo Zone 8 in Nakawa Division, Kampala, is currently in police custody as authorities probe whether the child’s death was accidental or intentional.
What began as a tragic report of a toddler’s fatal fall has evolved into a criminal investigation with far-reaching implications, including the involvement of the child’s father, Chris Rugari, a Ugandan diplomat.
The couple are currently embroiled in a bitter divorce case before the Family Division of the High Court, which had recently ordered DNA testing for all five of their children following allegations of infidelity.
DNA Test Scheduled Same Day as Death
On April 2, 2025—the same day Nganwa was pronounced dead—he and his 12-month-old sister were scheduled to undergo DNA testing as part of the ongoing divorce proceedings.
The urgency of the situation heightened after previous DNA tests on the couple’s three older children, aged 14, 12, and 10, revealed that two were not biologically related to Rugari.
According to investigators, this background raised red flags about the timing and circumstances of the toddler’s death.
“This death is being treated as suspicious,” said ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, deputy spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police.
“We are not ruling out any possibilities, including deliberate obstruction of the court-mandated paternity process.”
Police Statement and Investigation Findings
In an official statement released by Kampala Metropolitan Police on April 6, SSP Patrick Onyango, police spokesperson, outlined key findings from the investigation so far:
“Jinja Road Police have launched an inquiry into the death of two-year-old Nganwa Rugari, a resident of Mutungo Zone 8. On April 1 at around 8:30 p.m., the child’s mother, Ms. Joline Mutesi, reported that the boy had fallen from the first floor of a residential building. She rushed him to Kitintale Hospital at approximately 10 p.m., where he was examined and discharged with a recommendation for a CT scan.”
“However, at around 5 a.m. the following morning, the mother returned to the hospital with the child in critical condition. The child was pronounced dead on arrival. Police were informed and a full investigation was launched.”
Police later transported the body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem, which revealed no signs of physical trauma.
Notably, investigators found that the window from which the child allegedly fell was permanently closed, had an intact lock, and lacked burglar bars, further casting doubt on the initial narrative.
“When our forensic team examined the body, there were no injuries—no swelling, bleeding, bruises, or even a scratch,” said a detective close to the probe. “That’s not consistent with a fall from a building.”
Suspicious Behavior After Death
Sources say that immediately after the child was pronounced dead, Mutesi began contacting relatives and pressing for the body to be removed from the hospital and taken to a funeral home.
According to family members, she appeared focused on burial arrangements within minutes of the declaration of death.
“She was calling people, urging them to come quickly and help move the body,” said a relative. “It was like she didn’t want anyone else to intervene.”
However, the removal of the body was blocked by members of Rugari’s family, who insisted on waiting for police involvement—a move that ultimately led to the body being subjected to forensic examination.
Focus Turns to Motive
Police are now exploring whether the child’s death was a deliberate act aimed at preventing the DNA test, which could have provided legal evidence relevant to the couple’s contentious divorce.
“This is not just a domestic dispute anymore,” one investigator noted. “There are serious implications—legal, forensic, and potentially criminal.”
As the diplomatic community watches closely, Chris Rugari has not issued a public statement, but sources close to him say he is “shocked and devastated.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives examining the mother’s phone records, hospital logs, and statements from neighbors and medical personnel.
Police have also confirmed that the scheduled DNA test for the deceased child will still proceed posthumously, using preserved biological samples.
For now, Mutesi remains in custody at Jinja Road Police Station, assisting investigators as they unravel a case that began with a fall—but may end in far more serious charges.
