Rubanda, Uganda: Police in Rubanda have launched investigations into the suspected suicide of a 22-year-old Kabale University student who left behind a haunting farewell note describing life a “scum.”
Victor Mugarura, a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Land Use Management, was found hanging inside his family’s home on Thursday after taking his mother’s phone and disappearing earlier that day.
According to Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson ASP Elly Maate, Mugarura used a rope to end his life and left a chilling handwritten message that read: “I am sorry for this disappointment, but I hope you will forgive me. I didn’t expect this, but this is what life is. Dear God, forgive me all my sins. Life is a scum.”
Police said the incident occurred at an unknown time. The body was discovered by Mugarura’s sister, who was searching for him after he failed to return home. Upon hearing his phone ringing from inside the house, she entered his room and found the body suspended above the bed.
Police officers responded to the scene, documented the evidence, recovered the rope used in the act, and recorded statements from relatives and witnesses. The body was later transported to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examination.
ASP Maate urged young people facing personal struggles to seek support from trusted individuals, counselors, religious leaders, or community figures, instead of resorting to suicide.
“Taking one’s life doesn’t solve anything,” Maate emphasized, warning that depression and emotional distress should never be faced alone.
Uganda continues to face a growing crisis in youth mental health. According to the National Library of Medicine, 79% of suicide cases occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Despite the mental health burden, suicide is still considered a criminal offense in Uganda, a factor that mental health advocates say discourages survivors and families from seeking help.
The incident has triggered a wave of concern across Kabale University and the wider community, renewing calls for targeted mental health interventions in tertiary institutions and a review of Uganda’s punitive approach to suicide prevention.
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