Popular Kololo bar, Mezo Noir closes after woman dies from alleged drink spiking

Kampala, (UG): Mezo Noir Kampala, a popular high-end nightclub in the Kololo suburb has temporarily closed to the public following a tragic incident where a woman died hours after an alleged drink-spiking incident at the club.

The victim, only identified as Martha, is said to have collapsed on Wednesday night after allegedly taking an alcoholic drink believed to have been spiked up by one of the staff serving at the club.

Sources familiar with the case alleged that the footage extracted by authorities shows Martha entering the club’s office with a man identified as Eddie, the brother of the nightclub’s owner, who later emerged in a panic and returned with others.

Instead of immediately seeking medical assistance, the group reportedly used the club’s exit door to transport her to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. This paused questions on whether the club and its management were acting out of panic or concealing evidence.

Information obtained by DailyExpress indicates that the bar owner identified as Grace, her brother Eddie, and several staff have since been arrested to help with ongoing investigations, but police have yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.

While Mezo Noir’s management has cited “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason for the temporary closure, many believe the decision is tied to the ongoing investigation. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mezo Noir Kampala will be temporarily closed to the public, effective immediately, until further notice,” the statement shared on social media said.

“We appreciate your understanding and regret any inconvenience this may have caused,” it added. “Notification of the reopening date will be issued in due course,” the statement concluded.

Although relatives of the deceased could not be reached at the time we filed this story, we were told that the body is currently undergoing a postmortem examination at an undisclosed facility to determine the exact cause of Martha’s death.

The club, long favored by Kampala’s elite, is now at the center of a growing controversy, with revellers and activists demanding answers about safety protocols in the city’s entertainment industry.

As investigations deepen into the incident, key questions remain unanswered: Was Martha deliberately drugged? Were there attempts to conceal the incident? And how widespread is drink spiking in the city’s entertainment industry?