Man, 35, hangs self after relatives stop first suicide attempt

Namutumba, Uganda: Police in Eastern Uganda’s Namutumba District are investigating the suicide of a 35-year-old man who was found hanging behind his house just hours after relatives had earlier prevented him from ending his life.

The deceased, identified as Gikali Sosi, is reported to have attempted to hang himself before relatives recovered a rope and stopped the initial suicide attempt. According to SP Kafayo Micheal, the Busoga East regional police spokesperson, Gikali later escaped and committed suicide by hanging.

“It is alleged that Gikali first wanted to hang himself but the relatives prevented him. He later escaped from them and committed suicide by hanging, something which sent them into grief after recovering his hanging body behind the house,” SP Kafayo said in a statement on Monday.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Gikali had repeatedly threatened to take his own life over unresolved personal issues. While police had yet to confirm the precise cause, close family sources suggested longstanding misunderstandings and feelings of exclusion from family decisions could have contributed to his distress.

“We have preliminarily noted that the deceased has been having complaints and always threatening to commit suicide, which he finally did. This is very unfortunate,” SP Kafayo added.

Upon the family’s request, authorities permitted burial arrangements to proceed without transferring the body to the mortuary.

Police urged the public to refrain from resorting to suicide and encouraged individuals facing psychological distress to seek help from counselors, trusted friends, or local authorities.

“It is very unfortunate that he has taken his life, and we want to ask our people to avoid such acts but resort to sharing their challenges with others who can give support and other forms of assistance,” SP Kafayo said.