Update: I believed my wife was decent and faithful – Ugandan diplomat opens up after DNA revealed he’s not the biological father of two of his 5 children

Ugandan diplomat and businessman, Chris Rugari has broken silence following the tragic death of his two-year-old son, Nganwa Rugari and how he made the painful discovery that two out of his three eldest children are not biologically his. 

The police arrested his estranged wife, Joline Kanoheri, over the death of Nganwa hours before he could be subjected to a scheduled DNA examination to establish his paternity in a divorce case between the couple. 

The paternity test results have since confirmed that Rugari was the biological father of the deceased 2-year-old child. 

Kanoheri was apprehended last week following a suspicious incident in which she reported that her child had accidentally fallen from the first floor of their home to the ground in Mutungo, Nakawa Division, Kampala. 

However, upon examining the child’s body, authorities discovered no physical injuries consistent with such a fall. 

This discrepancy raised red flags and led the police to open a murder case against her.

Mr. Rugari, Zimbabwe’s Consular General to Uganda, in a letter addressed to the media on Wednesday April 9, 2025, confirmed reports of a DNA dispute, revealing that tests had shown two of his three eldest children were not his biological offspring, which he said was the source of the family misunderstanding which he only learnt of in late 2023. 

He also vowed to uncover the truth behind the “brutal and cruel death” of his son. 

Mr. Rugari dismissed as fabricated, accounts being circulated by his estranged wife and her sympathizers that he asked her “to remove her uterus after the birth of their first son and that when, the wife refused, Chris Rugari allowed her to have children with other men since for him, he only wanted one child among other fabrications.

Mr. Rugari strongly refuted such a narrative, insisting that those behind it need to be subjected to a sobriety test.

“I had refrained from commenting on these matters, which are already under police investigation, especially while mourning the brutal and cruel death of my beloved son under unclear circumstances,” the statement read.

“However, I have seen misleading information on some online media stating that I forced my ex-wife to undergo a hysterectomy after the birth of our first born and that it’s me who gave her the permission to go cheat and have children outside. The misinformation goes on to falsely indicate that between 2011- 2017, we had separated. 

“This is not only shocking but also deeply disturbing. Whoever conceived that narrative needs a sobriety test, as it lacks any logical basis.

During a briefing with the press, he shared his side of the story. He said 

I married Kanoheri Jolin in 2008. Our first child was born in 2010, followed by our second in 2013, our third in 2015, our fourth in 2022, and our last in 2024.

We enjoyed what I would describe as a wonderful and conflict-free relationship. Our first three children were born at Kololo Hospital, and I signed their birth certificates as their biological father. I took them for immunization, bathed, cooked food for them, and dressed them. I financially supported their education as their father at Kisffer Kindergarten in Bugolobi, then Gemz Cambridge Butabika , and later during Covid ,through online schooling in Lusaka Zambia when Gemz Cambridge closed.

I later relocated all my kids to Turkey to pursue specialized education in basketball, football, art, and drama. I had a great bond with all of them . Our fourth child ( who died recently) was born in German Saudi Hospital, and I again signed his birth certificate as the father. Our last child was born after the paternity issues in our relationship had already begun during her pregnancy, and I wasn’t able to sign the birth certificate.

I had always been grateful for what I believed was a decent, faithful, and loving wife, and I was extremely proud of our family. If perhaps I had died before and went to heaven, the first thing I would have told God was to say thank you for giving me a wonderful wife .

However, things changed in September 2023 when I made the painful discovery that two out of our three eldest children are not biologically mine. This is when my conflict with Jolin began. So the misleading angle she and her team are working overtime to sell to the public is meant to divert the public from discussing a puzzling issue that has astonished the medical community about how a 2 year old child falls from the first floor of the house , drops himself on hard surface but doesn’t experience any external or internal injuries but dies and you the caretaker , you keep insisting that the cause of death is accident caused by falling even when it’s not possible under science .

Therefore, I urge the public not to be misled by disinformation and fabricated propaganda intended to divert attention from what caused my child’s death. My sole concern now is uncovering the truth behind this tragedy. 

Press, I request you to give me time to mourn because I’m going through so much. In 2023, I had a happy family of 4 children and a lovely wife.

Today, my wife is in prison on suspicion of murdering her own baby, the DNA has already ruled out that I am the father of two kids, the one who was biologically mine is dead under unclear circumstances so it’s not easy. I hope you understand.
 

Thank you all, and I wish you God’s blessings. 

Meanwhile, The Nakawa Grade One Chief Magistrate, Frank Namanya has remanded Jolin Kenoheri Rugari to prison until May 6, 2025 on murder charges. 

She is accused together with her house maid, Robinah Nabanja who is charged with assisting Kanoheri to escape punishment. 

The two were on Friday, April 11, taken to Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court for mention of the charges against them. 

While in court, Kanoheri said she did murder her child, adding that she has always acted as both the father and mother of her children. 

“Police changed their statement, they lied a lot, they said a lot but what you have to know you people, I am innocent. Even God knows that I am innocent, I can’t murder my baby,” she said. 

“They (children) have been there since day one. I have been a mother and father of my children, I can’t murder my baby. You have to know the truth that I am innocent,” she added. 

However, Chief Magistrate, Namanya did not allow her and her co-accused to take plea, saying that Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has no jurisdiction to hear a capital offense. 

Namanya told the accused persons that their cases can only be heard by the High Court.