Police in Bwera are investigating the death of a 25-year-old student who allegedly took rat poison after being accused of stealing a pair of trousers.
The deceased, Thembo Miker Tumwine, was a student at St Michael SS Nyakahya and a resident of Kisanga Village, Kisolholho Parish, Karambi Sub-county in Kasese District.
According to police, the incident occurred on Monday, August 31, 2026, at about 5pm.
Police said the deceased had allegedly been accused by a schoolmate of stealing a pair of trousers and selling it to another person in Nyakahya Ward.
The schoolmate, together with two others, reportedly went to Tumwine’s home, where they found him with his mother, Biira Grace.
The group allegedly told the mother that they intended to take her son to the place where he had supposedly sold the trousers and recover them.
Police said the group later demanded Shs123,000 from the family, claiming it was the cost of recovering the trousers, and threatened to report the matter to police if the money was not paid.
The mother reportedly asked them to take her son and return for the money. One of the group members was allegedly given the money, after which they released Tumwine.
Police said that on his way home, Tumwine allegedly bought rat poison and took it at about 1pm before proceeding home and going to sleep in his sister’s bedroom.
When lunch was ready, his sister was sent to call him and found him unconscious and smelling of poison.
The family rushed him to Bwera Hospital, where he was admitted and given first aid.
Police said Tumwine regained consciousness and told his mother that the allegation that he had stolen the trousers was false, claiming that he had bought them himself. He reportedly said he took the poison because he was ashamed and angry over the accusation.
He died shortly after speaking to his mother at about 5pm.
Police said the scene was visited and documented, while the body was taken to Bwera Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
“Investigations are still ongoing,” Rwenzori East regional police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said in a statement.
