Dr. Ambayo reported that the boy’s fingernails and lips had “turned blue,” which suggests “oxygen deprivation”
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Jolin Kanoheri is expected to appear this Friday morning at Nakawa High Court in connection with the death of her two-year-old son, Nganwa Rugari, who died under suspicious circumstances on April 2, 2025—just hours before a scheduled DNA test.
Details of the postmortem conducted by Dr. Richard Ambayo among others have intensified public interest in the case, which has captivated the nation with its blend of tragedy, family drama, and accusations of foul play.
Dr. Ambayo reported that the boy’s fingernails and lips had “turned blue,” which suggests “oxygen deprivation.”
He also observed small bleeding spots on the surface of the heart and lungs, indicating a “sudden cut-off in oxygen supply” to vital organs.
Froth was seen coming through the nose, further pointing to possible asphyxiation.
In addition, the doctor noted a very small fracture of the breastbone, which he explained was the result of a first-aid procedure known as resuscitation.
Pathologists emphasized that the chest fracture was non-lethal and typically heals on its own, meaning it could not have caused the death.
Kanoheri, who has been in police custody at Jinja Road Police Station since April 4, maintains her innocence and claims the boy’s death was a tragic household accident.
According to her account, the child “fell from a window” of their multi-level home after being left briefly unattended.
She said she heard a “loud cry, rushed downstairs, and found him outside on the ground attempting to stand.”
She tried to rush him to the hospital, but her car failed to start.
An ambulance from Kitintale Hospital later picked up the boy, who was examined and given painkillers, with instructions to return the next day for scans.
Death
Hours later, at around 5:00 a.m., his condition worsened, and despite another emergency call and CPR attempts at the hospital, the child was pronounced dead.
However, the boy’s father, businessman and Honorary Consul of Uganda to Zimbabwe, Chris Rugari, has remained deeply suspicious.
He has questioned the timing and circumstances of the boy’s death, insisting it was anything but accidental.
“Let the public not be fed on disinformation and fabricated propaganda meant to divert attention from what killed my child,” Rugari said earlier this week.
“That’s the only thing I care about now.”
As Kanoheri heads to Nakawa High Court, the spotlight now shifts from speculation to legal proceedings—offering a potential breakthrough in the puzzling case.
