The victim only identified as Martha is said to be in hospital on life support. PHOTO/ COURTESY/X
Detectives at Kira Road Police Station are investigating a suspected poisoning case at Mezo Noir, a popular Kampala night club, after a female patron reportedly collapsed in the manager’s office.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, the incident occurred in the wee hours of Thursday (March 20, 2025) morning and is being admitted in ICU at Kampala Hospital.
“The victim only identified as Martha met her friend, Edward Mugabo, a cashier at the bar, at 2am, and they drank together until 3:30 am, when they moved to the manager’s office, which has no CCTV cameras, the victim reportedly collapsed in the office, and Mugabo notified his brother, Joseph Kalenzi. They rushed the victim to Kampala Hospital, where she was put on life support,” he told the Monitor in an interview on Friday.
“The doctors at the hospital have not yet pronounced the victim dead. Reports from the doctors indicate that she is still on life support system, her brain is dead but other organs are still functioning,” Mr Onyango told this reporter.
Mr Onyango confirmed that two men, Edward Mugabo and his brother Joseph Kalenzi, have been detained to aid police investigations.
“The two brothers are being held at Kira Road Police Station as investigations into the incident continue,” Mr Onyango said.
The police spokesperson’s statement comes hours after Mezo Noir’s managers announced a temporary closure “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
In a statement issued on Friday, the management said, “We appreciate your understanding and regret any inconvenience this may have caused. A notification will be issued in due course announcing the reopening date.”
