Hawker in Kasokoso commits suicide after failed relationship

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A man in Mutungo Zone III in Nakawa Division of Kampala has committed suicide following a relationship break down with his partner.

According to the residents, the deceased was heard crying out loud that he was being chased by a snake sent by his estranged wife before he ran out of room and threw himself into a channel in Kasokoso and died.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire has identified the deceased as Brian Mugarura 28 years who ran outside his house and threw himself into a drainage channel today

Stanley Ssengendo the area chairperson Mutungo Zone III said the deceased was one of his residents and a hawker dealing in old shoe merchandises but he broke up with his ‘wife’ only identified as Irene in past months over unknown misunderstandings.

He explains that the deceased started screaming that his wife and snakes were after his life at around 7: 00am. Shortly after Mugarura ran out of his room, as residents tried to go after him, he threw himself in a channel in Kasokoso and was taken away by the running water.

He however, suspects that the deceased could have ended his life because of depression or anxiety problems.

Robert Lumu, the defense secretary said this was not the first incident of young couples ending their lives over failed relationships.

He noted that they have registered at least 10 suicide cases of couples over failed relationships related problems within their area since last year’s lock-down.

But Ssengendo notes that most suicides cases are as a result of failed relationships, unemployment to most youths, high poverty levels among others. He is calling upon couples to reach out to church leaders and elders, area leaders for counseling.

Owoyesigyire said the deceased’s body has been retrieved from the nearby swamp and taken to Mulago Hospital for  postmortem as the investigations into his death continue.

According to the World Health Organisation WHO, close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and for each death, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.

A report by Ministry of Health, Uganda National Institute of Public Health -UNIPH Quarterly Epidemiological Bulletin indicates that Uganda has a high suicide rate with men at a higher risk than women.

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