Police explain Makerere student’s suicide death

A fourth-year student of Medical Radiology at Makerere University has died under such circumstances that police suspect he committed suicide due to pressure from debts.
Police say Ashiraf Nsubuga, 22, was found hanging on a rope at the doorway in his room at Nsibirwa Hall of residence.
Kampala Metropolitan police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire yesterday said Nsubuga acquired a loan from money lenders to expand his businesses, but failed to repay, which triggered a hunt for him by debt collectors.

“Our investigators have taken the body to the morgue for an autopsy. The results will help us corroborate what the forensic experts found at the scene. Other teams are reaching out to the alleged debt collectors to get details of the debts and their last interaction with the deceased,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
However, he said police did not find a suicide note.
Nsubuga was studying on government sponsorship and was expected to complete his studies this academic year.
His colleagues said he was also a businessman trading in electronics and garments, but was a reserved person.
Mr David Ssetumba, the chairperson of Nsibirwa Hall, said students who interacted with Nsubuga had told him that the deceased cleaned the place and looked well in the morning.

Mr Ssetumba said later Nsubuga received a call and rushed out of the room as if he did not want anyone to hear the conversation.
“He came back when he was deflated and his condition was visible to all. His colleagues wanted to know what had happened to him. He chose to keep it to himself,” Mr Ssetumba said.
As his colleagues left for other engagements, Nsubuga retired to solitude in his room.

Ssetumba said his roommate came back later and upon opening the door of the hall, he found Nsubuga hanging on the door way.
Mr Ssetumba said two weeks ago, the deceased told him that he had done an innovation to distribute milk around the country and shared his findings with a lecturer, whom he did not name.

“Ashiraf said when he called the lecturer later, he avoided him and declined to pick his calls,” Mr Ssetumba said.
Mr Rodney Kiggundu, a student, described the deceased as a person who loved innovation and could empty his wallet to pursue an idea he was interested in.
“One time he came to our house with an idea, which he said was so complex and wanted us to work with him to innovate it. Unfortunately, we did not take keen interest in what it was,” Mr Kiggundu said.
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