A fourth-year student at Makerere University has committed suicide inside his room at White House, an extension of Nsibirwa Hall after he reportedly participated in an online network marketing where he lost at least Shs18 million to a Ponzi scheme.
Ashraf Nsubuga, who was about 22 years was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiology at the college of health sciences on government sponsorship.
The Kampala metropolitan spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire confirmed the incident.
“Nsubuga’s body was found hanging on a rope tied on the door in his room. Teams from Wandegeya and Makerere police stations visited the scene and conveyed the body to the Mulago Hospital mortuary for post-mortem,” Owoyesigire said in a statement.
Owoyesigire says police is investigating the motive behind the suicide and information on the ground is that the deceased has been in debt.
“Maybe the cause is foiled business or debt collectors’ demands or pressure,” Oweyesigire said.
Nsubuga’s death by suicide is just one of many suicide cases that occur at Makerere University almost every year.
Rampant cases
Last year, Joshua Ajuna, was found dead in his room in Nsibirwa hall. On his side lay a bottle of suspected poison and two suicides notes. The notes said personal reasons drove Ajuna to kill himself.
In April 2011, Francis Kigenyi, 23, jumped to his death from the fifth floor of Baskon hostel on Sir Apollo Kaggwa road. Before his death, Emmanuel Kisadha, a brother, said Kigenyi told guests at his birthday party that his life was worthless and referred to himself as a ghost.
In 2011, Emmanuel Kagina, a second-year student, jumped to his death from the fifth floor of Mary Stuart hall at Makerere University. Friends suspected he had a misunderstanding with his girlfriend.
Hassan Muganzi, also a second-year student, studying Information and Technology and a resident of Nkurumah hall jumped to his death from the fourth floor of Mary Stuart hall after a quarrel with his girlfriend.
