Police have started investigations into circumstances under which a senior five student at Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary School in Kasangati, Wakiso district committed suicide.
Hawa Nantongo, 19 was found hanging on a rope on a tree in school uniform at Kyanja , Walufumbe Zone II.
“It’s alleged that on the 7 May 2024 at evening time, the deceased escaped from the school before she was found hanging with a rope from a tree in school uniform,” Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire said.
He explained that preliminary investigations have indicated that on the fateful day, the student was invited for a meeting with her mother at school to discuss an impasse over a science subject combination .
Police’s preliminary findings have indicated that while the student wanted to change combination from BCM to MEG/ ICT, her mother refused.
Meanwhile, the student approached the school counsel for advice and if possible speak to the mother for a change of heart.
The counsellor would later send the student to the head teacher’s office to summon the mother the following day.
“ The deceased and the mother were seen seated at the compound with the mother discussing for about seven hours but they never reached counselor’s office. At around 5pm, the counsellor went to find out why they took long to go to his office. He found when they were not there,” Owoyesigyire said.
He added that school authorities don’t know how the student left the dormitory and was later found hanging on a tree by locals.
Police said the scene was visited, statements recorded and body conveyed to the KCCA City Mortuary for postmortem as investigations continue.
Owoyesigyire however warned parents against putting their children under unnecessary pressures that could lead to problems as it happened to the senior five student.