The Police are investigating circumstances under which a 17-year-old Senior Three Student set herself on fire and later died from Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala.
The deceased is identified as Carnelian Maria Ndagire who was a student of Mpoma Girls School at Nama in Mukono district. Ndagire is said to have burnt herself from her grand’s home, Cissy and Sam Kiwanuka located at Kisowera Cell in Nama sub-county.
Sam Kiwanuka, Ndagire’s grandfather, told the mourners that police allowed them to bury her but asked them to report afterwards and record statements.
Ndagire shocked the locals in Kisowera trading centre on Monday morning as they witnessed her burning up in flames and crying for help.
Pr. Stella Namukasa, a relative told Kyaggwe TV that Ndagire who stayed with her grandmother Cissy Kiwanuka was on Sunday told to prepare her property and boarding school requirements so that she could be taken back to school on Monday morning.
“Unfortunately, on the fateful Monday morning, Ndagire bought petrol and set herself ablaze as her grandmother had first taken her siblings to a nearby school first,” she said.
It is alleged that people just saw Ndagire running with flames of fire and crying for help. With people instead running from her as they feared to also catch fire. She managed to get a jerrycan of water which she poured on herself and the fire stopped.
One of the neighbours identified as Sauda said that as she was taking one of her children back to school, they saw Ndagire kneeling down in a banana plantation but they did not give her attention.
“After a few minutes, we heard her crying and running very first heading in my direction. But as she was seriously burning up, I could not do anything but run away from her because I suspected if I got close to her, I was also going to catch fire,” she said.
Ndagire was first taken to a nearby health facility, Kisowera Medical Centre for first aid before she was later rushed to Kiruddu Referral Hospital for specialized attention. Regrettably, Ndagire breathed her last breath on Tuesday from Kiruddu hospital.
Pr. Namukasa said that they later learnt that though they had already paid all the tuition for Ndagire’s first term education at Mpoma Girls School, which is within the vicinity, she had asked to be taken to instead another nearby school Kisowera Senior Secondary School and in a day section, something which they declined.
“She instead asked to be given one week as she prepared herself but all her pleas were not given attention,” she said.
While in hospital, Ndagire said that she had fallen in love with a fellow teen who is a mechanic in Kisowera town only identified as Bashir. It is therefore suspected that she might have wanted to study from a day section and be able to get time to interact with the alleged boyfriend.
Ndagire’s remains were on Wednesday taken to Kikubampanga village in Ssemuto sub-county, Nakaseke district where she was laid to rest at her ancestral ground.
Catechist George Ssemakula of St. Jude sub-parish in Kasana-Luweero diocese who led the burial mass showed dismay that despite the fact that Ndagire had her rosary in the neck which was also burnt down, satan managed to penetrate her minds and ended up into such a gruesome act which claimed her life.
Rev. Samuel Kiyingi also said it was such a shocking incident seeing such a young girl dying in a manner which would be prevented if she treasured her life.
“Let’s treasure life always and endavour to avoid such incidents. It’s a better practice to share with our friends or neighbours in case we find ourselves in situations which would tempt us into finishing our lives,” he said.
Daniel Miiro, a resident of Nama in Mukono district, asked parents to always save time and interact with their children both at home and at school.
Miiro said it must be a practice of all parents and guardians to spare time, talk to their children and ask for things that are challenging them.
“We are in a different society from the one of our parents, even when a child tells you that he or she has a boy or girlfriend, we should not feel shocked and resort to punishing them only. Talking and counseling them can heal the challenge,” said.
Last week, a Senior Four Student at Ntare School in Mbarara City was reported to have committed suicide after being forced by the parents to bathe.
Atwine Alvin, 18, was a son to one of the teachers at school known as Tuheise Peter.
It was reported that Alvin took rat poison in the evening after his parents insisting on his bathing which ended his life.
It is said Alvin used to go to Ntare fields every evening and return home to no bathing.
As the parents tried to compel him to bathe saying enough was enough after he had taken four days of missing out.
He got angered and decided to take poison which ended his life.
