12-year-old girl hangs self

WAKISO - Shock engulfed residents of Nkumba central, Katabi town council in Wakiso district when a body of 12-year-old Coltilda Naluyima was found hanging on a pole in a small room from where she had been sleeping.

According to Mark Matovu, a neighbour, the deceased who was staying with her stepmother, was not sleeping in the main house, but in one of the small rooms adjacent to the main house, from where she allegedly hanged herself on Thursday evening.

Phiona Nabirye, one of the family members said they had breakfast with Nabulime after she (deceased) was done with washing her uniforms in preparation of the next school term.

"She expressed no signs of agony whatsoever, but to our shock, we found her hanging with a bed-sheet tied around her neck," noted Nabirye.

With eyes and tongue protruded out, Naluyima's body which was soiled with excretion, was taken to Mulago hospital for postmortem. A case of suicide was recorded at Abaita Ababiri police vide SD 26/23/05/2019 as investigations into the matter continue.

Some residents wanted to force Hellen Makamazibu, the stepmother out of the house, accusing her of leaving a 12-year girl to sleep in a congested room outside the main house.

Thomas Katende,  a father to the deceased, later returned from Nsazi island from where he trades in the fishing business. He explained that Naluyima and siblings had spent their school holidays at the same island, with him, and had only returned to Nkumba central just a day before her demise. "She was happy and jolly by the time they left me at Nsazi Island," stated Katende.

Katende who was restricted by his in-laws from talking to the press did not explain why his 12-year-old daughter was sleeping outside the main house, which looked big enough to accommodate all the five children at home. 

Cotilda Naluyima, a second born among five children, was a pupil of Nkumba Junior Primary School, in primary four.