HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Police have revealed fresh details surrounding the murder of 22-year-old TikTok creator and waitress Jovia Namuwulya, also known as Jovia1235, following the arrest of a key suspect who was allegedly preparing to flee the country.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said police arrested Patricia Rose Turindamukama in Mbuya, Kampala, on Monday in connection with Namuwulya’s stabbing.
According to Kawala, Turindamukama was arrested at a friend’s house as she allegedly prepared to travel to Iraq. Police said she had already applied for a visa to the Middle Eastern country at the time of her arrest.
“Following the murder by stabbing of Namuwulya, which occurred on Friday in Mukalazi zone, Bukoto I parish, Nakawa division in Kampala, the suspect, Turindamukama, was on Monday arrested in connection with the murder,” Kawala said.
She added that the suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
TikToker Found Dead in Room
Namuwulya was found dead in the room where she had been living in Bukoto, several months after moving into the residence.
Police said she had moved into the room about seven months ago and later invited Turindamukama to live with her. The two reportedly remained together until Namuwulya’s death.
The discovery was made after Namuwulya’s relatives failed to reach her on phone on Friday.
Kawala said the caretaker and Namuwulya’s sister went to the room but found the door locked. Their suspicions grew after they looked through a window and saw blood stains inside.
“The caretaker and Namuwulya’s sister went to the room but found it locked. Looking through the window they observed blood stains inside the room. They subsequently accessed the room and found Namuwulya lying in a pool of blood,” Kawala said.
Police recovered the body and transferred it to the Kampala Capital City Authority mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Investigators suspect that Turindamukama fled the scene after Namuwulya was stabbed.
Suspect Gave Alternative Account
Before her arrest, Turindamukama had taken to social media to explain what she claimed had happened to her friend.
She alleged that a man identified only as Muhammad was responsible for Namuwulya’s death.
According to Turindamukama, the two women had met Muhammad through the dating application Tinder. She claimed that Muhammad assaulted Namuwulya after accusing her of stealing his money.
The allegation remains part of the circumstances surrounding the killing, while police investigations are expected to establish what happened inside the room and determine the circumstances that led to Namuwulya’s death.
The arrest of Turindamukama has now placed the person who lived with Namuwulya at the centre of the police investigation.
As detectives continue examining the evidence, including the circumstances at the scene and the competing account given on social media, police have not indicated whether Muhammad has been identified, arrested or questioned.
For now, Turindamukama remains in police custody as investigators piece together the final moments of the young TikTok creator whose death has shocked her relatives, friends and followers.
