The Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has committed Jolin Kanoheri Rugari, wife of Zimbabwe’s Honorary Consul in Uganda, Chris Rugari, to the High Court to stand trial over the alleged murder of the couple’s two-year-old son, Nganwa Rugari.
Grade One Magistrate Frank Namanya on Thursday also committed Ms. Rugari’s housemaid, Robinah Nabbanja, to trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed that investigations into the eight-month-old case were complete.
The alleged offence occurred between April 1 and 2, 2025, at the family’s home in Mutungo Hill, Nakawa Division, Kampala District.
According to the indictment, Ms. Rugari is charged with murder with malice aforethought, while Ms. Nabbanja faces charges as an accessory after the fact, accused of helping her employer evade justice.
Investigations reveal that Ms. Rugari and her husband were entangled in a heated divorce and paternity dispute. Earlier DNA tests conducted in Turkey reportedly showed that two of their three children were not biologically related to Mr. Rugari. A Ugandan court had subsequently ordered DNA tests for all five children for the afternoon of April 2, 2025.
However, before the tests could be conducted, Ms. Rugari reported that her son Nganwa had died after allegedly opening a window and falling from the first floor of their home.
A postmortem report by government pathologists Dr. Moses Byaruhanga and Dr. Richard Ambayo contradicted the mother’s claim, ruling out death from a fall. The doctors found no external or internal injuries consistent with a fall, determining instead that the cause of death was asphyxia due to ruptured pulmonary veins.
Further investigations by the National Building Review Board (NBRB) revealed that the window in question was intact, difficult to open, and unlikely to have been accessed by a two-year-old. The crime scene report confirmed the window was closed and very hard to open, undermining Ms. Rugari’s version of events.
Digital forensics also traced Ms. Rugari’s phone records and movements, which prosecutors say raised further suspicion. When the child was first taken to Kitintale Hospital, doctors observed no external injuries and recommended a CT scan to check for internal trauma. Ms. Rugari reportedly refused the scan and discharged the child.
Hours later, at about 5:30 a.m., she returned to the hospital with the unresponsive child, who was pronounced dead. Witnesses claim she attempted to bribe medical staff into issuing a death certificate, which they declined, prompting the hospital to alert police.
During her first police interview, Ms. Rugari allegedly used a false name — Mutesi Brenda — before officers discovered her true identity through her passport.
Housemaid Robinah Nabbanja told investigators that Ms. Rugari called her around 10 p.m. claiming the child had fallen. They reportedly found the boy sitting on the ground but conscious. After the initial hospital visit, Ms. Nabbanja said her employer later woke her around 5 a.m., saying the child’s condition had worsened. Minutes later, Ms. Rugari phoned her again, claiming the boy had died and instructed her to lock the gate and deny entry to anyone.
Medical reports confirmed both suspects were adults in sound health with no injuries.
The prosecution intends to rely on medical evidence, witness statements, digital records, and documents from the ongoing divorce and paternity case when the trial begins in the High Court.
Both Ms. Rugari and Ms. Nabbanja remain on remand at Luzira Prison pending the scheduling of their hearing
