Makerere final year student commits suicide

Joshua Ajuna, a 4th year student of Forestry at Makerere University left fellow students in utter shock when he decided to end his life on Saturday evening citing "personal reasons".

Ajuna's death was confirmed by his roommate who stumbled upon his lifeless body on return from home where he had gone to spend the weekend. The roommate made an alarm that gathered several students at room 69, Nsibirwa Hall, where Ajuna lodged.

The deceased, according to sources inside the Hall where he was a resident for the last four years of his course left behind a suicide note dated Saturday 15th, September 2018 that he was going to commit suicide due to "personal reasons".

The source which preferred anonymity went ahead to allege that the note also pointed out the means by which he was going to end his life.

" The suicide note included that he has done it for personal reasons and also points out the means by which he ended his life. He used Asphyxiation, 540mg of diazepam and Alcohol," the source told Nile Post

Close friends who were with him on Friday 14th, September 2018 a day before he took on his own life told Nile post that there was nothing peculiar from his usual silent and introvert kind of life.

By press time, Police had been called into action and the body was being taken to the Mulago hospital mortuary for further investigations.

Cases of Suicide at Makerere University

In April 2011, Francis Kigenyi, 23, a final year student of Social Sciences jumped from the 5th floor of Baskon Hostel and died instantly. The deceased left a note complaining he had trouble no one was willing to listen to.

In November 2011, Emmanuel Kagina, a second year student at faculty of Arts and attached to University Hall jumped to his death at Mary Stuart Hall.

In November 2011, Hassan Muganzi, a second year student of information technology and resident in Nkrumah Hall, came down from the fourth floor of Mary Stuart Hall and died instantly.

In September 2016, Ronald Abaho also a student attempted to commit suicide after losing his tuition fees to sports betting.

Why would some one commit suicide?

Every 40 seconds, another human life is taken by suicide, this is according to World Health Organization data.

In Canada, a new report reveals that young people between the ages of 15 and 19, who are struggling with mental illness and addiction, have the highest rates of suicide attempts. Middle-aged men are also at high risk, as are children and youth in First Nations. Communities who live with the legacy of trauma perpetuated by colonization and the residential school system.

The psychologytoday.com points out six reasons why people commit suicide.

1. They are depressed.

2. They are psychotic. (Inner voices that demand self destruction)

3. They are impulsive. (drugs and alcohol)

4. Philosophical desire to die. (As a way of communicating to those that hurt them)

5. Made a mistake.