Rising Influencer Diana Skys, 24, Found Strangled to Death in Her Apartment

5 February 2026

Diana Skys. Diana Skys/Instagram

The tragic and abrupt end of a young life sent shockwaves through the online creator community and beyond this week after Ugandan influencer Diana Namulinde, better known to her fans as Diana Skys, was found strangled to death in her Kampala apartment on February 4, 2026. The 24-year-old had cultivated a devoted following of nearly 200,000 across Instagram and TikTok with her lifestyle, fashion and beauty content, mingling aspirational imagery of luxury travel and curated everyday moments with a relatability that endeared her to viewers across the globe.

Friends who returned to her home after failing to reach her discovered her lifeless body; the front door stood ajar, and the discovery touched off a homicide investigation that has rapidly evolved into a criminal case involving several suspects, including a security guard who was found in possession of items believed to have been stolen from her residence. Authorities are continuing to piece together what happened in a killing that has left her family, fans and fellow creators reeling.

Namulinde’s death was first reported when friends and followers who were unable to get a response from her grew concerned enough to alert authorities to check on her after noticing unusual silence. Ugandan police, including homicide detectives and scene-of-crime officers, documented the apartment, recovered exhibits from the scene and interviewed witnesses.

Deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed to local outlets that three suspects have been identified in connection with the incident and that two had already been arrested, one of them a security guard linked to the property where she lived. According to police, several items suspected of being stolen were recovered from a suspect’s possession in the early stages of the investigation, which is being treated as an aggravated robbery and murder. Her body was taken to Mulago City Mortuary as the inquiry continued.

Namulinde’s momentum on social media had been building steadily in recent years, reflecting broader trends in which young creators parlay online followings into personal brands and lifestyle businesses. Fans gravitated to her content showcasing fashion hauls, beauty tutorials and glimpses of experiences that ranged from travel to everyday snapshots that reflected a life in motion.

Her last post published the day before her body was discovered became a poignant and heartbreaking reminder of how quickly life can shift, generating an outpouring of grief and tributes across platforms as followers struggled to reconcile the vibrant energy she projected online with the violent reality of her death. In the comment threads of that final social media update, fans shared heartfelt messages such as Rest well and RIP alongside broken-hearted emojis as they mourned the loss of a young creator whose voice had resonated with so many.

The public response reflected not just sorrow for her death but a sense of disbelief. Diana Skys had portrayed a lifestyle to which many aspired: bustling with beauty, travel and charm, she embodied the image of a young woman shaping her own narrative in an increasingly visual cultural landscape. Reports from regional outlets and social media commentary described how friends gathered at her funeral with heavy hearts, tears flowing and emotions raw as they confronted the reality of her loss. The gathering demonstrated how deeply she was loved within her community, with close companions holding onto cherished memories of her sparkling personality and her presence in their lives.

The abruptness of her passing has also sparked broader discussions about safety, security and vulnerability for creators who build public profiles and often share substantial aspects of their personal and professional journeys online. Namulinde lived in a residential area in Kampala that was surrounded by an electric fence and guarded, a setting that might suggest safety yet her death showed how unpredictably violence can intrude even in ostensibly secure environments. Neighbours and acquaintances questioned how someone could be attacked within such a space, with some expressing suspicion about whether the perpetrator was someone she knew. While the investigation continues to unfold, those concerns underscore the complex intersection of public visibility and personal risk faced by figures in the digital spotlight.

In the immediate wake of her death, police made swift arrests, including detaining a security guard who was reportedly found with items believed to have been taken from Namulinde’s home, and a third suspect has been identified. As statements are taken from witnesses and more evidence is analysed, authorities have indicated a determination to bring accountability in what is being treated as a violently criminal act. The details of how the suspects are connected to the scene and the exact sequence of events that led to her death remain under investigation, with further updates expected as police work to clarify motive and responsibility.

For many in the influencer community and beyond, Namulinde’s death is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the dissonance that can exist between the aspirational worlds depicted on social platforms and the sometimes harsh realities off camera. At an age when most people are still navigating early adulthood and laying the groundwork for future chapters of their lives, Namulinde’s untimely death truncated a story that had shown such promise,, a narrative of creative expression, connection and entrepreneurial spirit. Her followers and peers are left to grapple with grief, tribute and reflection, honouring her memory even as they watch a criminal investigation press forward.

As plans for her funeral proceed and more light is shed on the circumstances of her tragic death, Diana Skys’s absence will be felt by those who admired her, both for her digital presence and for the warmth and authenticity she brought to her work. In a digital age where influencers can feel like friends and companions in daily life, her loss reverberates beyond Kampala, reminding the world that behind every username and polished post is a real human being with dreams, connections, loved ones and an irreplaceable story.