Police have commenced investigations into the death of an 18-year-old student at Naalya Secondary School’s Bweyogerere Campus after he was discovered hanging inside a boys’ toilet block on Tuesday evening.
The incident happened on July 8 at the school’s campus in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, prompting a police response and an ongoing inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said officers from Bweyogerere Police Station were notified by the school after the student was found unresponsive.
“The Police at Bweyogerere are investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspected suicide,” Owoyesigyire said in a statement.
Upon arriving at the scene, detectives carried out a forensic examination, documented evidence and interviewed several witnesses as part of the initial investigation. The student’s body was later transferred to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Investigators also recovered a handwritten note believed to have been left by the deceased. Police say the document is being analysed to help establish the events leading up to the incident.
Authorities have not released the student’s identity, saying this will only be done after the family has been formally informed and investigative procedures are completed.
The incident has renewed concerns about the emotional and psychological wellbeing of learners, following a number of similar cases reported in schools across the country over the past few years.
In February 2025, police investigated the death of a 16-year-old student at Seeta High School in Mukono District after he was found dead in a boys’ dormitory in another suspected suicide case. The tragedy prompted the Speaker of Parliament to task the Ministry of Education and Sports with examining deaths occurring in schools and proposing measures to improve student safety and welfare.
Mental health professionals have consistently warned that many learners silently struggle with challenges ranging from academic stress and bullying to family-related problems and other forms of emotional distress. They argue that expanding access to school counselling services and creating supportive learning environments are critical to preventing similar incidents.
Statistics from the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025 show that suicide continues to be a significant public health concern. Police recorded 1,282 suicide cases during the year, a slight rise from 1,266 cases registered in 2024, even as overall crime levels declined.
The figures have reinforced calls for stronger mental health awareness campaigns, earlier identification of individuals at risk, and improved access to counselling and psychosocial support, particularly among young people.
Police say inquiries into the Naalya Secondary School incident are still underway, and additional information will be released once investigations are concluded.
