Pallisa, Uganda: Police in Pallisa District have launched investigations into the death of James Walwasa, commonly known as Ekomol, whose body was found hanging from a mango tree about 100 metres from his home in Ocupai Village, Kameke Sub-county, on Tuesday morning.
Walwasa was the longest-serving support staff member at Kameke Secondary School, where he worked in the security department for more than 25 years.
William Asabat, the LC1 chairperson of Ocupai Village, said he spoke to Walwasa on Monday evening and that the deceased had asked to meet him at his home the following morning. “He insisted on meeting me on Tuesday morning at his home. He said he had critical issues to share,” he said.
Asabat said Walwasa also served as his secretary responsible for education, health and environment on the village executive.
He said he became concerned after learning of Walwasa’s death and immediately reported the matter to Vincent Oluka Epokeom, the LC3 chairperson, and police.
However, Asabat said the scene was disturbed by curious members of the community before police could fully secure it. “Unfortunately when we got back, the curiosity of the people interfered with the scene. The services of the police sniffer dog could not be used to ascertain his movement to the scene of crime,” he said.
School mourns second staff member
The death has left Kameke Secondary School community mourning another member of staff within two months.
Robert Okia, a teacher at the school who spoke on behalf of the institution, described Walwasa as a highly committed staff member who was respected by both teachers and students.
“He was an icon in counselling, even to teachers, regardless of his education status. We respected him,” Okia said. He added that the school was now “bereaved and scared” following the death of another staff member, Iculet Angela Rose, in June 2026.
“I cannot really tell the spirit that made him commit the alleged suicide. As Kameke SS family, we ask for prayers so that this does not become a sequence of losing a colleague every two months,” he said.
Police question circumstances surrounding death
The Pallisa District Police homicide team, led by District Police Commander Patience Namara, visited the scene and addressed residents before the body was removed.
Namara urged members of the community to seek help when facing personal difficulties rather than resorting to suicide.
“Allow us to lower the body and initiate our investigation to establish the facts. These kinds of deaths are becoming rampant,” she said.
After the body was lowered, detectives said they had not observed some of the signs they commonly associate with hanging, including protruding eyes, a protruding tongue, faecal matter or urine.
Police also noted that the knot of the rope was positioned at the front.
The observations prompted investigators to take the body to Pallisa General Hospital for a postmortem examination to establish the cause and circumstances of death.
“This is a criminal issue and calls for no negotiations. If the ingredients of our findings confirm suicide, we shall ask the family to make statements and the body will be laid to rest. If not, we do a postmortem,” Namara said.
Some relatives reportedly resisted the postmortem, citing the cost involved.
LC3 Chairperson Oluka appealed to the community not to interfere with the investigation, saying arrangements had been made to meet the cost of the examination.
“If your person dies in hospital, do you involve police to transport the body? My brother Amigos Osire has accepted to meet the cost. Why are you not yielding?” Oluka asked.
As police investigate the circumstances surrounding Walwasa’s death, different accounts have emerged about his activities on Monday evening.
David Tukei said he drank local brew with Walwasa the previous evening and that the deceased was dressed in his work uniform and intended to report to school at 5am.
However, another mourner, who requested anonymity, claimed there had been a family disagreement involving Walwasa, his wife and one of their sons on Monday night.
Police have not confirmed whether either account is connected to Walwasa’s death.
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