Police in Kigezi Sub-region have registered six homicide cases in a single week, four of which are suspected suicide cases, raising concern over deaths linked to domestic violence, land wrangles, alcohol and drug abuse.
While addressing journalists during a one-day stakeholders’ dialogue that brought together civil society actors, community representatives, including women, youth and persons with disabilities, and state actors from across the Kigezi Sub-region organised by Citizens Council in Africa, CICOA, in partnership with the Local Sustainable Communities Organisation, LOSCO at White Horse Inn in Kabale District on Tuesday, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, SP Nelson Tumushime, said the recent cases point to a worrying trend requiring concerted efforts from police, community leaders, religious institutions and the public.
Tumushime said police had observed that some of the suspected suicide cases were linked to mental health challenges, domestic violence, land conflicts, excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse, particularly among young people.
The Kigezi Sub-region comprises Kabale, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kisoro and Kanungu districts.
“We have observed that some of the causes are mental health challenges. We have also observed that these suicide cases are as a result of domestic violence, land wrangles, excessive consumption of alcohol and drug abuse, especially among the youth,” Tumushime said.
He said police are intensifying community engagement through barazas to identify and address conflicts before they escalate into violence or loss of life.
Tumushime said police will also work with probation officers, LC chairpersons, religious leaders and other stakeholders to promote peace and reconciliation, particularly in families experiencing conflicts.
“We want them to preach a message of peace and reconciliation in families that are facing conflict,” he said.
He added that District Police Commanders, station commanders and community liaison officers had been instructed to engage LC1 chairpersons and other local leaders to help identify and respond to emerging cases of conflict and violence.
Tumushime also directed police commanders to ensure that suspects in murder cases are arrested promptly and taken to court within the required legal procedures.
He appealed to members of the public to report people showing signs of intending to commit suicide so that police, local leaders, religious institutions and other relevant authorities can intervene early.
“People should report to police in case they see somebody is about to commit suicide. LCs can also report to church leaders, councillors and probation officers so that we can intervene at an early stage,” he said.
CUE IN TUMUSHIME….ON SUICIDE CASES…..RR/ENG//
Land disputes fuel community complaints
Kabale Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) Michael Muramira Kyakashari has meanwhile called for increased public awareness on where to seek help when faced with land disputes and other community concerns, saying land-related complaints account for a large proportion of cases referred to government offices and police.
Muramira said increasing pressure on land in the Kigezi Sub-region has made land disputes among the most common complaints handled by government offices and law enforcement agencies.
“Land has become a problem because there is no land. We don’t have land. And most cases which are referred to our offices and the police are land-related cases,” he said.
He said the RDC’s office has handled a number of land-related complaints through mediation, with some disputes that had remained in courts for several years being resolved through alternative dispute resolution.
Muramira added that the office does not demand money from complainants before handling their cases and urged members of the public to report any official who asks for a bribe.
He said mediation had also helped reduce the burden on courts by resolving disputes before they progressed through lengthy litigation.
The DRDC welcomed the stakeholder engagement on human rights and access to justice, describing it as timely and urging organisers to ensure that its recommendations are implemented beyond the meeting room.
He called on organisations such as Citizens Council in Africa (CICOA) and other stakeholders to expand community sensitisation programmes so that residents understand where to take their complaints and the procedures involved in pursuing them.
Muramira also stressed the importance of proper documentation, particularly for land, urging citizens to learn how to safely keep important documents that may be required when resolving disputes.
He further called for stronger follow-up mechanisms to establish whether cases referred to government offices, police or other institutions are eventually concluded.
According to Muramira, some community members are directed to government offices or service providers by people they consider knowledgeable, but there is often no follow-up to establish whether the complainant eventually received assistance.
He also raised concern over complaints against police that later turn out to have resulted from failure by complainants to formally record statements.
“When you call the IO at the police and ask, ‘Do you know this case?’ they say, ‘Yes, I know the case.’ But the complainant has never made a statement. But this person has now come to accuse police,” he said.
The DRDC urged residents to understand the procedures involved in pursuing complaints, including making formal statements when reporting cases to police and attending court whenever required.
He said some complainants mistakenly believe their responsibility ends once a police file is forwarded to the prosecutor or court, yet their participation may still be necessary for a case to proceed.
CUE IN KYAKASHARI….ON THE MATTER…ENG//
Mental health concerns
Jennifer Aceng, the Communications and Advocacy Officer at Vijana for Sustainable Development and Environmental Action (Videa) Uganda, said mental health challenges among young people require urgent intervention as unemployment, poverty and family pressure continue to expose many youths to psychological distress.
Aceng said mental health is a serious and longstanding challenge that could worsen if communities and other stakeholders fail to intervene.
She cited the 2025 State of Population Report, saying it indicates that more than 800,000 people in Uganda are battling mental health challenges, while only about 10 per cent seek help.
“You would ask yourself, where do the rest go? And amidst all this, we have the youth, who make up the biggest percentage of Uganda’s population. It is a serious problem,” she said.
Aceng identified unemployment, poverty and family pressure, among other factors, as major drivers of mental health challenges among young people.
She urged Ugandans to create safe spaces where young people can freely discuss issues affecting their mental health without fear of stigma.
“Mental health is real, and I would implore every Ugandan to actually come together, give them that safe space to actually speak out on some of the issues affecting them,” she said.
Aceng said collective action involving families, communities, organisations and other stakeholders is necessary to address mental health challenges among young people.
CUE IN ACENG….ON THE MATTER….ENG//
Meanwhile, Tumushime urged journalists to use their platforms to raise awareness about suicide prevention, peaceful conflict resolution and the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.
He also cautioned the public against suicide, saying it is an offence under Uganda’s Penal Code Act.
“We cannot develop when cases of suicide and murder are on the rise,” Tumushime said.
