Strange: Man who set himself on fire outside the Parliament passes On in Kiruddu

Benjamin Agaba, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporter who set himself on fire outside the gates of Parliament in late February, has died at Kiruddu Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment.

What you Need To Know:

Chaos erupted around 10:00 am last month near the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on Parliamentary Avenue, when a young man set himself on fire outside the main gate of Parliament. The victim was identified as Benjamin Agaba.

A friend of the victim, who preferred anonymity said that Agaba had called him the previous night, expressing frustration over his futile attempts to get assistance from the NRM Secretariat and other offices. The victim had reportedly threatened to take his own life. 

He said that Agaba, a budding artist from Kiboga District, had high hopes after composing a song praising President Museveni's leadership. 

He expected a token of appreciation or recognition from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), but unfortunately, it didn't materialize last year.

"He told me that he was in NUP in 2021 and later switched to NRM, but some of his former colleagues were angered, allegedly attacking his home, injuring him, and setting his father's house on fire. His father, who had begged him to avoid politics, was disappointed in him and chased him away from home," the friend said.

He had been seeking compensation from NRM and justice from the police, but to no avail, his father had sent him away. These frustrations ultimately led him to contemplate taking his own life." the friend said.     

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, confirmed the incident, stating that the motive behind the attempted suicide is still unknown to investigating officers. 

"We are still unaware of the motive behind the attempted suicide, but the victim has been rushed to Mulago Referral Hospital and later transferred to Kiruddu Hospital for specialized treatment of his burns," Onyango stated.

Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango stated that the man will face charges related to attempted suicide once he recovers. He also urged individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts to seek professional counselling help.   

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 800,000 people die by suicide annually, with over 20 suicide attempts for every death.

Additionally, a report by the Uganda Ministry of Health and the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) reveals that Uganda has a high suicide rate of 18.67%, with men being more susceptible than women.