KAMPALA– A senior five student of Wampewo Ntake SS in Wakiso district has committed suicide over her alleged mother’s pressure to take on science subjects.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, has identified the deceased as Hawa Nantongo, a 17 year-old who ended her life over the weekend.
It is alleged that Nantongo’s mother has been forcing her daughter to take on a combination of Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics (BCM) yet the student wanted Arts of Divinity, Economics and Luganda.
One of the students whose identities withheld said Nantongo was always in tears and trauma because of the combination, which could have triggered her suicide. “She says that the combination being forced on her is too hard for her, but her mother couldn’t listen to her.” A student said.
The Police Preliminary Investigations have indicated that she covered her face and escaped from the school, before her body was found hugging on the rope at the tree outside the school.
“Her body was found hugging by the people around the school. Her body has been conveyed to the city mortuary Mulago for the post-mortem, as investigations continue to establish her actual cause of death.” Owoyesigyire said.
Police explain that before her death, she had reached out to the teachers to help her and beg the mother, but all was in vain. Police have since cautioned parents to always understand their children, in such situations.
“We would like to call on parents to always sit with their children to understand their passion and strength, while studying, such cases wouldn’t have happened for instance in this case.” Owoyesigyire said.
This comes the time when suicide cases are increasing day by day in Kampala Metropolitan Areas. At least four people including, a 40-year-old John Birungi Babirukama an ICT specialist and digital marketer, who jumped on the level 2D balcony of Tagole building in Kamwokya and died instantly on Thursday last week.
Kira-Road Police in Kampala on Sunday recorded another suicide, at Skyz Hotel-Naguru, where a 35 year-old Indian National, Shukla Chirangkumar fell from the 4-floor of the building, breaking his arm. Investigations by Police revealed that the deceased had checked into the hotel with a yet unidentified lady with whom he spent the night.
At least four cases of suicide were registered by Police last week within Kampala Metropolitan areas. According to the world Health Organization-WHO, close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and for each death, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.
