MIND THE PEOPLE YOU CALL FRIENDS: POLICE ARREST ROOMMATE OVER BUKOTO MURDER OF TIKTOKER JOVIA

By Meddy Walusimbi Omuyiribi/ Tuesday, 25th August, 2026

KAMPALA- The death of 22-year-old TikToker and waitress Jovia Namuwulya has taken a new turn after police arrested her roommate in connection with the murder.

Jovia, who was known on TikTok as Jovia1235, was found dead inside her rented room in Mukalazi Zone, Bukoto I Parish in Nakawa Division on August 20. Police said her relatives became worried after she stopped picking their calls. Her sister and the caretaker went to check on her but found the room locked. When they looked through the window they saw blood stains inside. They forced their way in and found Jovia lying in a pool of blood. Her body was taken to City Mortuary in Mulago for postmortem.

Racheal Kawala, Kampala Metropolitan police spokes peson

At the time the body was discovered, her roommate was missing. Police identified the roommate as Rose Turindamukama, also called Patricia Rose Turindwamukama. According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala, Rose had visited Jovia about three months after Jovia rented the room and later started staying with her. When Jovia was found dead, Rose was nowhere to be seen and police started looking for her.

The case caused a lot of talk on social media. Different stories started circulating online. One version claimed that Jovia and Rose had met a man identified as Muhammad through Tinder and that a disagreement over money happened before Jovia died. Others claimed Rose had fled the country and that messages were sent using Jovia’s identity. Police have not confirmed any of these claims. They have not confirmed the identity or involvement of Muhammad and have not established the motive behind the murder.

Now police have confirmed an arrest. In a statement released on August 24, SP Kawala said the suspect was arrested at her friend’s house in Mbuya, Nakawa Division. She is currently in police custody.

According to police, at the time of her arrest the suspect was planning to flee the country to Iraq. Preliminary investigations show that she had applied for an Iraqi visa on August 21, just one day after the incident. Police said relevant documents have been recovered and are being examined as part of the ongoing investigations.

Investigations are still ongoing. Police are appealing to anyone with information that can help with the case to report to the nearest police station.