Police arrest prime suspect in murder of TikTok creator Namuwulya
Racheal Kawala, the KMP police spokesperson, on Tuesday (August 25) said the suspect, Patricia Rose Turindamukama, was arrested in Nakawa as she was reportedly planning to flee to Iraq.
22-year-old TikTok creator and waitress Jovia Namuwulya was killed by stabbing. (Courtesy)
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Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) have confirmed the arrest of a key suspect following the stabbing death of 22-year-old TikTok creator and waitress Jovia Namuwulya.
Racheal Kawala, the KMP police spokesperson, on Tuesday (August 25) said the suspect, Patricia Rose Turindamukama, was arrested in Nakawa as she was reportedly planning to flee to Iraq.
“Following the murder by stabbing of Namuwulya, in Mukalazi zone, Bukoto I parish, Nakawa division, Kampala district, the suspect, Turindamukama, was on Monday, August 24, 2026, arrested in connection with the murder. The suspect was arrested at her friend’s house in Mbuya, Nakawa division, Kampala district, and is currently in police custody. At the time of her arrest, the suspect was reportedly planning to flee the country to Iraq,” Kawala said.
She said preliminary investigations indicate that Turindamukama had applied for an Iraqi visa on August 21, 2026, one day after the incident.
Namuwulya was found dead on August 20, 2026, after relatives became concerned when they failed to reach her by phone.
Kawala explained on Monday (August 24) that Namuwulya had rented the room in which she was killed about seven months earlier.
She reportedly brought in her friend, Turindamukama, who later started living with her in the same room.
Kawala said Namuwulya's relatives contacted the caretaker on August 20, after she stopped responding to their calls.
The caretaker and Namuwulya's sister went to the room but found it locked.
Police took Namuwulya's body to the City Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Turindamukama reportedly fled the scene after the stabbing.
“Her friend Turindamukama, whom she was staying with, couldn't be found and is currently being sought in connection with the incident,” Kawala said on Monday.
On Friday, Turindamukama took to social media to explain Namuwulya’s death. She claimed that a man identified only as Muhammad was responsible for the killing.
According to her account, they met the man through the dating application Tinder. Turindamukama allegedly claimed that Namuwulya later stole money from him and that he traced them to their rented home.
She further alleged that the man killed Namuwulya during a confrontation and that she fled because she was frightened.