Debt pressure turns deadly: 52-year-old Gulu businesswoman found dead in suspected suicide

3 March 2026, 8:26 pm

By Gift Okello

Police in Gulu City are investigating the tragic death of a 52-year-old businesswoman, Claire Nambooze, whose body was discovered hanging inside her residence in Tegwana Cell, Laroo-Pece Division on Saturday afternoon.

According to David Ongom Mudong, spokesperson for the Aswa River Region Police, Nambooze had left home earlier that morning as usual. At approximately 11:00 a.m., she reportedly asked a neighboring vendor to oversee her merchandise for the day before returning to her house, where her body was later found.

Preliminary reports indicate that the deceased had accumulated debts amounting to six million Uganda shillings from four separate microfinance institutions. Police have registered a case of suspected suicide at Gulu Central Police Station under SD Ref 34/01/03/2026.

The body was transferred to the mortuary at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital pending a postmortem examination as investigations continue.

Evelyn Auma, the Community Development Officer for Laroo-Pece, cautioned residents against daily repayment loan schemes, noting that such financial arrangements often trap small-scale traders in cycles of debt.

Gulu City Woman Member of Parliament Betty Aol Ocan urged business owners to avoid unlicensed money lenders who charge exorbitant interest rates and unlawfully retain National Identification Cards as collateral.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, reiterated warnings he previously issued during a public rally in January, emphasizing that so-called microfinance “quick fixes” frequently deepen financial distress rather than provide sustainable solutions.

Christine Ajok, a mental health specialist at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, described debt-related depression as a serious medical condition that requires timely professional intervention.

Authorities have urged members of the public facing financial or emotional distress to seek support from trusted family members, community leaders, or qualified mental health professionals as investigations into the incident continue.