KAMPALA, 11th April 2025
Fresh details have emerged regarding the death of a two-year-old child who fell from a window, prompting police to arrest the mother for further investigations.
This follows the death of 2-and-a-half-year-old Nganwa Rugari over the weekend under suspicious circumstances while he was left at home with his mother, Jolin Mutesi, 40, and a housemaid.
The child’s father, Chris Rugari, a businessman and Zimbabwe Counsul to Uganda, along with other family members, quickly pointed fingers at the mother for allegedly knowing more than she revealed. As a result, both the mother and the housemaid were arrested and detained at Jinja Road Police Station.
NEW DETAILS EMERGE
Reliable sources within the investigating officers now suggest that the baby fell from an upstairs window after slipping past the mother and entering a room with an open window.
At the time, the baby was playing with a torch which fell outside through the window. In an attempt to retrieve it, the baby also fell and sustained fatal injuries.
The mother and the housemaid told the police and investigators yesterday that the child died from injuries sustained in the accident after falling. This has been confirmed by Police after the forensic experts analysed the crime scene, “we have connected all the dots, this child fell down” said a police source which declined anonymity because he has no power to speak for the force.
According to the inside sources, the mother said, “It hurts to lose my child, and it’s even worse when people twist the story. No one could have loved the child more than I did—I carried him and gave him life. My child died in an accident after falling through the window.” a weeping Joline told investigators.
She added, “Nganwa had grown very active recently, always moving around. The housemaid told me that the child had learned how to open that window, although it had no barriers. At the time of the incident, the maid was sleeping and I had gone to get the window key in a room adjacent to the master bedroom. The child sneaked into the room, playing with the small torch, which slipped and fell. In trying to retrieve it, he fell too. I was in my room when I heard the him crying outside, ran out, and we rushed him to the hospital.” said Joline according to inside sources at Police.
Currently, the mother is in distress, especially because her husband, with whom she has been having marital problems and a court case over separation, suspects her involvement in the child’s death—an accusation she strongly denies.
At the time of this story, the mother had also been denied access to her youngest child, who is still breastfeeding.
On Wednesday, police returned to the home in Mutungo Zone 8 where the tragedy occurred, to gather evidence and hear both sides in order to build a solid case file.
After these developments, the police transferred the housemaid—who was first held at Kira Road Police Station—to Jinja Road Police Station, where the mother was also being detained. Both remain in custody.
FAMILY SPEAKS OUT
The woman’s family stated that they want police and forensic experts to conduct a transparent and independent investigation, as they suspect others may be trying to manipulate the case.
A family member said, “We know that Mutesi could never kill her own child. She carried him and raised him lovingly. We still believe her account of what happened is true.”
They also asked the maid to remain truthful and not let herself be caught up in the couple’s marital problems, which are already in court.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said investigations are still ongoing and police are determined to uncover the truth.
