Police Hunt Roommate After Waitress Jovia Namuwulya Murdered in Bukoto

Police in Kampala are investigating the murder of 22-year-old waitress and TikTok content creator Jovia Namuwulya, whose body was discovered in a locked room in Bukoto on August 20, 2026. Authorities are actively searching for her missing roommate and person of interest, Rose Turindamukama.

What began as a family’s growing worry over unanswered phone calls on August 20, 2026, quickly turned into a grim homicide investigation in Kampala’s Mukalazi Zone, Bukoto I Parish, Nakawa Division. Relatives trying to reach 22-year-old Jovia Namuwulya eventually contacted the residential premises’ caretaker when the young waitress and TikTok content creator failed to respond. According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, SP Racheal Kawala, the murder is believed to have occurred between midnight and 6:00 AM at the residential premises where Namuwulya lived. “On August 20, 2026, the caretaker of the houses received a telephone call from relatives of the deceased inquiring about Jovia, as she was reportedly not responding to their calls. The caretaker, together with the deceased’s sister, proceeded to the room where Jovia was staying,” SP Kawala said.

Discovery Inside the Locked Room in Bukoto

When the caretaker and the victim’s sister arrived at the property, they found the front door securely locked. Peering through the window, they immediately spotted alarming signs of violence inside the living space. She added: Upon arrival, they found the room locked. On looking through the window, they observed bloodstains inside the room. They subsequently accessed the room and found Jovia lying in a pool of blood, deceased.

Police details indicate that Namuwulya had rented the room seven months prior, and was known on TikTok as Jovia1235. After gaining entry to the quarters, they discovered the victim lying motionless in a pool of blood. Investigators established that the Kira Police are actively investigating a murder incident that occurred on August 20, 2026, between midnight and 6:00am. Following the initial crime scene assessment, law enforcement officers transferred the victim’s remains to the City Mortuary, Mulago, for a post-mortem examination.

The Search for Rose Turindamukama

Attention quickly shifted toward the victim’s living arrangements and an abrupt disappearance. Police records indicate that about three months after moving in, Namuwulya received a female visitor identified as Rose Turindamukama (also referred to as Rose Turinda-Mukama), who began cohabiting with her in the same room.

By the time relatives and the caretaker broke into the room, Turindamukama was nowhere to be found. Police officials confirmed that her sudden flight turned her into a person of interest in the homicide investigation. Her friend, Rose Turindamukama, was nowhere to be found and is currently being sought in connection with the incident, Kawala stated, noting that Turindamukama’s abrupt disappearance has raised strong suspicion regarding her potential involvement or knowledge of the crime. Kawala added that other inquiries are ongoing, and efforts to trace and apprehend the suspect are actively being pursued.

“Anyone with information that may lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect is urged to report to the nearest police station.”

SP Racheal Kawala, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson

Kawala cautioned members of the public to be careful about people they trust and those they allow access to their homes and property, emphasizing that public cooperation remains critical to preventing and combating crime.

Unsubstantiated Theories and Broader Crime Figures

As detectives chase leads across the capital, social media platforms are abuzz with various theories surrounding Namuwulya’s death. Some claims suggest that a man only identified as Muhammad was involved. It is alleged that both women met this individual through the dating app Tinder, and that Namuwulya had stolen money from him. Reportedly, he tracked the pair to their room, leading to a deadly confrontation where he allegedly killed Namuwulya. Police have not substantiated these claims, nor have they verified the existence of the man described or reports suggesting that Turindamukama fled Uganda shortly after Namuwulya’s death.

Police Hunt Roommate After Waitress Jovia Namuwulya Murdered in Bukoto — Photo: NewVision.co.ug

The tragedy also unfolds against a wider backdrop of national crime statistics. According to the Police Annual Crime Report for 2025, Uganda registered 4,238 homicide cases in 2025, representing a slight decrease from the 4,329 cases reported in 2024. The report highlights that victims were killed through various means—including assault, domestic violence, shooting, poisoning, arson, and mob action—resulting in a total of 4,268 recorded fatalities last year, comprising 3,397 male adults, 550 female adults, 173 male juveniles, and 148 female juveniles. While forensic teams process the Mulago City Mortuary examination results, police continue their appeals for public assistance.