By KT Reporter
A tragic incident unfolded in Lweza Village, Mukono Central Division, where a woman whose names have been withheld reportedly attempted to take her own life after allegedly being betrayed by her family members. Originally from Kamwenge District, the young woman is said to have recently returned from working abroad, reportedly in the Middle East.
Upon return, she moved in with a friend named Mercy. However, Mercy later left the country, leaving the victim alone in her rented single-room accommodation. According to residents, she was last seen earlier in the day fetching water but appeared visibly distressed. One neighbor grew concerned about her condition and alerted others.
Moments later, the community heard a loud thud and discovered that the woman had collapsed and was bleeding heavily. Inside the house, authorities reportedly found evidence that she had swallowed an overdose of capsules and had inflicted self-harm by cutting her veins. “She went out to fetch water and shortly after, we heard her fall. When we rushed to check, we found her bleeding. We immediately called the police,” one of the residents recounted.
Samuel Kabenge, a local journalist who visited the scene, confirmed that police had begun tracing her relatives. He also urged landlords to be cautious when renting out property to strangers, especially vulnerable returnees from abroad. Preliminary police investigations suggest that the suicide attempt may have been triggered by a dispute involving money she had sent home while working abroad.
It is alleged that she entrusted her earnings to family members with the hope of starting a business upon her return. However, the funds were reportedly misused, leaving her in despair. Local leaders, including Mukono Central Division Deputy Chairman Zaid Sali, condemned the growing trend of family members misappropriating funds sent by relatives working overseas.
“This is not an isolated case. We’ve had other youth returning from the Middle East only to find that their hard-earned money has been squandered. We urge parents and guardians to be honest and responsible with remittances,” said Sali. He also called upon the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to take a more proactive role in safeguarding the welfare of migrant workers and to set up structures for counselling and reintegration support. Police officers from Wantoni and Mukono Central Police Station visited the scene and rushed the victim to Mukono General Hospital for emergency medical attention. Investigations into the matter are ongoing-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
