KAMPALA — Police have arrested a woman suspected of being linked to the murder of 22-year-old Jovia Namuwulya, whose body was discovered in a pool of blood inside her rented room in Bukoto last week.
The suspect, identified as Turindwamukama Patricia Rose, was arrested on Monday, August 24, at a friend’s house in Mbuya, Nakawa Division, Kampala, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police.
Namuwulya was found dead on August 20 in Mukalazi Zone, Bukoto I Parish, after relatives raised the alarm when she stopped responding to their telephone calls.
Police had earlier identified Turindwamukama as a person of interest after she could not be traced following the discovery of the body.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said the suspect is now in police custody as detectives continue to establish what led to Namuwulya’s death.
“Following the murder by stabbing of Namuwulya Jovia, which occurred on August 20, 2026, in Mukalazi Zone, Bukoto I Parish, Nakawa Division, Kampala District, the suspect, Turindwamukama Patricia Rose, was on August 24, 2026, arrested in connection with the murder,” Kawala said.
According to police, Turindwamukama was apprehended at a friend’s residence in Mbuya, where she was reportedly hiding.
Investigators believe she may have been preparing to leave Uganda for Iraq.
Kawala said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect applied for an Iraqi visa on August 21, just a day after Namuwulya was killed.
“Relevant documents have been recovered and are being examined as part of the ongoing investigations,” Kawala said.
Police had earlier said Namuwulya had been living in the rented room for about seven months, while Turindwamukama had later joined her and started staying in the same room. When Namuwulya’s body was discovered, Turindwamukama was missing, prompting detectives to launch a search for her.
The arrest is expected to provide investigators with an opportunity to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing, including the events leading up to Namuwulya’s death and what happened immediately afterwards.
Police have not disclosed a possible motive for the murder, and Turindwamukama remains a suspect as investigations continue.
“Investigations are still ongoing,” Kawala said.
