“When Vanisa’s mother returned home, she was informed about the incident and attempted to speak to her daughter. However, Vanisa reportedly locked herself inside one of the rooms and refused to respond,” Taitika said.
Police in Mbale City are investigating the deaths of two secondary school students who died in separate suspected suicide incidents within a week, raising fresh concerns about the mental well-being of young people in the region.
The latest victim, Namakoye Vanisa, 19, a Senior Five student at Mbale Progressive Secondary School, was found dead inside her family’s home in Bunamwani Lower Cell, Bumutoto Ward, on Thursday night.
According to the Elgon Regional Police spokesperson, SP Rogers Taitika, preliminary investigations indicate that Vanisa had earlier sent her younger sister with sh10,000 to buy food. However, the younger girl reportedly returned home without the food after losing the money.
Police said Vanisa allegedly assaulted her sister over the lost cash before their grandmother intervened.
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“When Vanisa’s mother returned home, she was informed about the incident and attempted to speak to her daughter. However, Vanisa reportedly locked herself inside one of the rooms and refused to respond,” Taitika said.
The girl’s parents later returned shortly after midnight and found her dead inside the room.
Police officers visited the scene, recorded witness statements and conveyed the body to Mbale City Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Taitika said investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the death.
Police also revealed that Vanisa was reportedly a close friend of Nelima Catherine, also known as Nisha, a 16-year-old Senior Three student at Mbale High School who was found dead at her home in Bumutoto Ward earlier this month in another suspected suicide case.
According to police reports, Catherine’s mother, Kanyunyuzi Jennifer, had left her children at home on June 9 while she went to town for business. Upon returning at about 5 p.m., she found the other children at neighbours’ homes and later discovered Catherine unresponsive in a bedroom.
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A team of homicide detectives and Scene of Crime officers visited the scene and conducted examinations before transferring the body to Mbale City Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Police have not yet established the circumstances that led to either death and say investigations into both cases remain ongoing.
The incidents have renewed concerns among parents, educators and community leaders about the mental health challenges facing young people.
According to police records, the Elgon Region registered 11 suspected suicide cases in 2025, compared to 13 cases recorded in 2024.
SP Taitika urged parents, guardians and schools to remain vigilant and pay close attention to the emotional and mental well-being of children and adolescents.
“We urge members of the public, especially parents, guardians and schools, to remain vigilant about the mental health and well-being of children,” he said, appealing to anyone with information that could assist investigations to report to Mbale Central Police Station.
The two deaths have sparked calls for increased mental health awareness and support systems for young people in schools and communities across the region.
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