Last drink that took Mezo Noir socialite’s life: What exactly happened?

KAMPALA - At 10:20 am on March 20, Superintendent of Police Tyson Rutambika, the division Police commander of Kira Road Police Station, received an urgent call. 

The reason? Martha Murari Ahumuza, a 23-year-old city socialite, had collapsed at Mezo Noir Bar in Kololo and been rushed to Kampala Hospital, where she was admitted in critical condition. 

The socialite, who had been out that night meeting friends and an intimate acquaintance, remained in a coma for over 24 hours before being pronounced dead the following day at 3:00pm. 

Was Ahumuza’s death the result of a fatal cocktail of drinks, poisoning or an accident? Investigators have since launched a full-scale inquiry into the events leading to her demise.

How it all started 

Preliminary investigations indicate that Ahumuza left her parents’ home in Mamerito ward, Kira division, Wakiso district, on March 19, 2025, for work at HSF Logistics Company in Nakasero, Kampala, where she was the human resources manager. 

Her mother, Barbara Murali Kagonyera, was reportedly in Dubai on a business trip on the fateful night. A case file of suspected murder by poisoning, referenced as CRB 308/2025, has since been opened at Kira Road Police Station. 

Sources at the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, who are analysing evidence in the case file, stated: “After work, she went for aerobics and swimming at Speke Apartments, where she met her friend, Dorreck Ampaire, on March 19. 

After aerobics, Ahumuza and Ampaire proceeded to Auras Bar and Lodge in Kololo, where they stayed until around 12:05am. 

Ahumuza and Ampaire then left for Lower Kololo Terrace, to the home of Eria Mubiru, who was Ahumuza’s intimate partner. They arrived at Mubiru’s residence at around 12:30am on March 20.” 

Quoting Ampaire’s police statement, the source said while at Mubiru’s home, Ahumuza and Mubiru did not engage in a meaningful conversation but instead focused on their mobile phones, chatting with other people. 

“Ahumuza was chatting with Edward Mugabo, her other boyfriend, who is now the prime suspect. Mugabo was at Mezo Noir at the time, where he worked as the manager,” the source added.

Night of drinking 

While at Mubiru’s home, Ahumuza reportedly requested her favourite wine — Sauvignon Blanc Margaret River. According to reports, Mubiru ordered two bottles. 

However, Ampaire stated that they drank only half of one bottle, while Mubiru abstained from drinking. Later, Ahumuza reportedly informed Mubiru that she was heading to her home in Kira. 

However, she instead drove her car to Mezo Noir, where she met Mugabo. It is reported that while drinking at Mubiru’s place, Ahumuza confided in Ampaire that she wanted to meet Mugabo to resolve some personal issues. 

At that time, she also asked Ampaire to support her deception to Mubiru — that she was heading home to pick up clothes she would wear to the office in the morning. 

Ahumuza had promised to return and sleep over at Mubiru’s place but instead ended up at Mezo Noir, where she later collapsed and subsequently died. 

Preliminary Police investigations indicate that Ahumuza arrived at Mezo Noir at around 1:45am on March 20 and engaged in a lengthy discussion with Mugabo over a drink.

WhatsApp chats 

Quoting WhatsApp messages exchanged at around 1:00 am, the source revealed: “Ahumuza initiated a message to Mugabo, informing him that she was leaving for home.  She also inquired if he was still at Mezo Noir so she could pass by briefly.” Shortly thereafter, Ahumuza sent another message to Mugabo saying: “I have no curfew today.” 

Investigators interpreted this to mean that her mother was not at home that night, having travelled abroad. Mugabo, who was planning to drive his sister back home within Kololo, agreed to meet Ahumuza at Mezo Noir after dropping off his sister. 

He also said he would return to close the bar. While Mugabo returned at around 1:30am, Ahumuza arrived at approximately 1:45 am. 

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained by police shows that upon her arrival, the security guard, Deus Niwamanya, opened the gate for her. 

Ahumuza parked her vehicle, stepped out alone, and went into the bar, where she found Mugabo at the counter taking stock of the day’s sales.

Final moments 

Police reports indicate that they were the only two individuals in the bar, as all revellers and staff had left except for the guards. While at the counter, the CCTV footage captures them conversing. 

Mugabo served Ahumuza four shots of Jägermeister liqueur and a can of Red Bull. As they continued their conversation, she sipped on the cocktail. 

The footage also shows Ahumuza discreetly pouring some of her drink into a dustbin while Mugabo was away from the counter. Upon his return, Mugabo is seen adding more shots of Jägermeister to her disposable glass. 

At around 2:29 am, the two were seen leaving the bar, walking hand in hand to the manager’s office. Ahumuza carried her drink with her. A Police report states that while in the manager’s office, Ahumuza and Mugabo engaged in sexual intercourse. 

“During or immediately after intercourse, Ahumuza became unconscious on the couch,” it states. At around 3:30 am, Mugabo was seen frantically making phone calls. 

Moments later, Mugabo’s brother, Joseph Kalisa, arrived in a black Mercedes Benz registration number SSD 020BY, according to the Police. 

With the help of the bar security guard, the trio carried Ahumuza out of the premises into the vehicle before driving her to Kampala Hospital. Here, doctors noted that Ahumuza was unresponsive and in critical condition. She was later pronounced dead at around 3:00pm.

Was it poisoning? 

Ahumuza’s sudden death has raised suspicions of poisoning, either deliberate or accidental. 

This prompted Police to seal off Mezo Noir Bar and retrieve crucial evidence, including two bottles of Jägermeister (one half-empty), a disposable glass containing a yellowish liquid, a bedcover and a T-shirt from the manager’s office. 

It has since been discovered that the T-shirt contained semen, whose deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is pending analysis. 

Forensic teams have also taken samples from the Sauvignon Blanc bottle found at Mubiru’s residence so as to ascertain whether they bear traces of drugs, alcohol and toxins. 

Toxicology tests are being conducted at the Government Analytical Laboratory in Wandegeya so as to determine whether Ahumuza was poisoned or suffered from alcohol-related toxicity. 

The deceased’s family has vowed to uncover the truth behind Ahumuza’s death. She was laid to rest at Nyarubanga, Mbarara, on Sunday (March 23).

Five suspects grilled 

Police have detained five individuals linked to Ahumuza’s last moments, including: 

• Edward Mugabo, the prime suspect, as he was the last person seen with Ahumuza. 

• Joseph Kalisa, Mugabo’s brother, who helped transport Ahumuza to hospital. 

• Eria Mubiru, Ahumuza’s intimate partner, who hosted her earlier that night. 

• Deus Niwamanya, the security guard who assisted in carrying Ahumuza to the car. 

• Dorreck Ampaire, her friend, who spent the earlier part of the night with her.