Teenager commits suicide over failed relationship

Seventeen-year-old Peace Nabirye, a resident of Nawangoma B village in Northern division ofJinja city is reported to have committed suicide by strangulation on Wednesday after her parents disapproved of the relationship she was engaged in with her brother in law.

She strangled herself using a rope that was hanged on a jackfruit tree behind her parents’ house.

Nabirye’s father, Fred Mutaalu says that following last year’s lockdown, their daughter resolved to stay with her elder sister but in late September, she was spotted having a conjugal affair with her brother-in-law.

Mutaalu says that they recalled Nabirye to their village home and advised her against engaging in acts that would lead to the collapse of her sister’s marriage, but she did not heed to their advice and threatened to end her life.

“We have been engaging her to end all ties with the brother in law but she seemed not ready to listen to us and it is very unfortunate that she resolved to end her life instead,” he says.

William Balikowa, the area L.C.1 chairperson says that teenagers within their village are overwhelmed due to lack of essential needs like clothing and sanitary wares, among other necessities. He says many of them have resorted to cross generational sexual affairs with their close relatives, as a means of providing for their general life wellbeing.

Balikowa adds that about three girls have been rescued from committing suicide over failed relationships in a period of one month.

Others are receiving post-abortion care in surrounding health facilities, whereas, several others have since fled from their respective parents’ homes, according to the chairman.

Kiira region’s police spokesperson, James Mubi says that information obtained from Nabirye’s peers and siblings indicate that she was undergoing a series of depression bouts, which might have pushed her to commit suicide.

Mubi adds that the deceased has been taken to Jinja regional referral hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.