Man takes own life in Rwabyoma primary school classroom

17 December 2024, 8:30 pm

By Kato Joseph

Matale

A 25-year-old man has been found dead by hanging in one of the classrooms at Rwabyoma Primary School, a government-aided institution in Kaikara village, Matale sub county, Kibaale district.

Joseph Ayesiga, the Officer in Charge of Kibaale Police Station, identified the deceased as Julius Tumusiime, a resident of Kibyasi village in Bubango sub county.

According to Ayesiga, residents were initially unable to identify the deceased until police searched his bag and found an introductory letter from his village chairperson recommending him for work as a porter in Mityana municipality.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased may have been killed by unknown assailants who later brought the body and hanged it in the classroom to mislead investigators.

Omuhereza Twaikya Gumisiriza, the Chairperson of Kibyasi village, has confirmed that he issued an introductory letter to Tumusiime four months ago for work in Mityana. However, Tumusiime returned to the village a week ago and allegedly stole three bags of dried cassava belonging to Emmanuel Kato, a resident of the same village.

Twaikya described the deceased as a notorious thief.

Flavia Murungi, the Headteacher of Rwabyoma Primary School, stated that the incident took place in a newly constructed but unfinished classroom block.

Residents, led by Musitafa Ruswata, the Chairperson of Kaikara village, have noted that the incident has sent shockwaves through the area.

By press time, the police had taken the body to Kibaale Health Centre IV for a post-mortem and were awaiting the arrival of the deceased’s relatives.

However, following the police’s investigation, Rev. Fr. Joseph Tibaijuka, Chaplain of Schools in Buseesa Catholic Parish, held a Holy Mass within the classroom to cleanse the place with Holy Communion.