Uganda: Man found hanging dead at Kampala golf course

The body of Samuel Bukendi, suspected to be a vendor at Nakasero market was on Tuesday found hanging on a tree at around 7am.

The head of security at the Golf Course, Mr Edwin Ocaya, told this reporter that Bukendi was found with his identity card from Nakasero market and a national ID belonging to a woman.

Police are yet to establish the motive or circumstances under which Bukendi died.

His body was retrieved and conveyed to the city mortuary at Mulago.

Police are yet to comment on Bukendi’s case.

However, last week, Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said there was a sharp rise in suicide cases after two people jumped off city buildings and other two others found hanging dead on trees in less than 72 hours.

Three cases were reported on June 3 in Bulenga, Katwe, and Kiira. Two men are said to have hanged themselves while one— an Asian national —threw himself from the top a hotel building.

“Shukla Chiragkumar, 35, allegedly jumped from the fourth floor of the hotel building, breaking his arm, and was rushed to a hospital in Bukoto where he was pronounced dead,” said ASP Owoyesigyire.

At the time, he said detectives were also investigating two other suspected suicides involving Robert Wanonili, 38, in Bulenga, and Yunus Budo, a chapatti vendor in Katwe.

“Wanonili is suspected to have died by suicide by using a wire tied on a mango tree. What we know about the deceased is that he has been a cancer patient. The exact motive of this suicide is also under investigation,” he said.

Budo’s body was found hanging on a tree near his house at Ndejje Lubogomu.

The three deaths were reported barely two days after a 40-year-old prominent ICT specialist and digital marketer, John Birungi Babirukamu, a resident of Kitwale, allegedly jumped to his death from the top of a hotel building in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.

The World Health Organization indicates that more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year under different circumstances, mostly attributed to depression.

WHO also reports that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally.

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

What experts say

In an interview with this publication Mr Drabe Godfrey Yiki, Mental health Expert said loans, family related issues, under performance at work places and lack of mental health sessions at work has greatly contributed to some of the suicides in the country.

“Lack of mental health sessions at work places has greatly contributed to mental health issues and suicides in the country. Many Ugandans are dying with loans and debts and they don’t have anyone they can openly discuss such issues,” Mr Drabe said.

Adding on, “Human resources should organize open sessions at work places, in such sessions everyone is allowed to share his/her emotions and challenges with others.”

Mr Drabe urged the government to also put place mental awareness campaigns on how Ugandans can access help.