New details emerge on Martha’s death at Mezo Noir as detectives retrieve last WhatsApp chats with Mugabo

KAMPALA, UGANDA:– Fresh details have surfaced in the mysterious death of 23-year-old Martha Ahumuza Murari, who collapsed at Mezo Noir Bar in Kololo and later died at Kampala Hospital.

In the latest development, detectives investigating the case have retrieved WhatsApp conversations between the deceased and the prime suspect, Edward Mugabo, a cashier at the bar, shedding light on their final interactions.

According to a preliminary police report, Martha, who at the time of her tragic death was staying with her mother, Barbara Kagonyera, in Namugongo, took advantage of her mother’s absence (reportedly on a business trip to Dubai) to plan a night out with the key suspect.

Messages retrieved from her phone show that she reached out to Mugabo, asking whether he would be at Mezo Noir on the night of the incident.

It is further reported that before heading to meet Mugabo at Mezo, Martha first visited another bar in Kololo at around 10 p.m., where she stayed for about an hour and a half. At around 11:30 pm, she went to meet Mugabo at Mezo, where she allegedly consumed a poisoned drink, leading to her collapse.

Surveillance Footage and Suspicious Activity

CCTV footage retrieved by detectives from cameras at Mezo Noir reportedly shows Martha entering an office within the bar alongside Mugabo. Moments later, Mugabo is seen rushing out in distress, seeking help from his brother, Joseph Kalenzi.

“By the time Ahumuza collapsed, all customers had left, and only four people remained in the bar,” a detective close to the investigation revealed.

Investigators suspect that after consuming the tainted liquor, Martha was sexually assaulted before collapsing.

When she got rushed to Kampala Hospital, it was reportedly too late to save her life, and she was pronounced dead the following day.

Forensic Examination and Arrests

A forensic examination reportedly confirmed evidence of sexual assault, with findings indicating penetration within the suspected timeframe.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, confirmed that a post-mortem was conducted by police forensic pathologists while officials from the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL) collected samples of the deceased’s internal organs for toxicology tests.

Onyango further stated that two suspects, Mugabo and his brother Kalenzi, are currently in custody as detectives prepare the case file for submission to the Resident State Attorney for legal advice.

Authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding Ahumuza’s tragic death, with forensic results expected to provide further clarity on what transpired that fateful night.