Post

• News

• July 28, 2025

The community at Kabale University and the greater Rubanda District has been left in deep mourning following the tragic death of Victor Mugarura, a 22-year-old first-year student of Agriculture and Land Use Management. Found hanging in his room at home in Hamurara cell, Bubare Town Council, Victor’s passing casts a dark shadow over the silent struggles faced by many young Ugandans today.

Victor’s death was not without a final word. In a heartbreaking note left behind, he penned a message that still echoes painfully in the hearts of all who read it:

“I am sorry for this disappointment, but I hope you will forgive me. Just know that I love you all. Life is a scum. Bye-bye

These are not just words—they are a scream written quietly, a desperate farewell from a young man who, behind the face of potential and education, was slowly drowning in pain. His family had searched for him through the day after he vanished with his mother’s phone. His sister would later discover his lifeless body, leaving the family and university community shocked and grieving.

Victor’s death has reignited urgent conversations about mental health, the unbearable pressures of student life, and the need to break the silence around depression and emotional trauma. Uganda has long battled high suicide rates, especially among the youth. But the underlying stigma, compounded by a legal system that still criminalizes suicide, has left many suffering in silence, without hope or help.

Victor Mugarura’s life mattered. His pain was real. And his final words are a wake-up call for families, educators, policymakers, and peers. We must recognize that not all wounds are visible. That grades, expectations, and daily survival pressures can pile up in cruel ways. That asking “Are you okay?” and truly listening could make a life-saving difference.

As we grieve this loss, may we honor Victor’s memory not with silence, but with change. With more support systems on campuses. With open conversations about mental health. With compassion, not judgment.

Victor, may your soul find the peace you were searching for. You were loved. You will be remembered.

If you’re struggling, don’t stay silent. Help is available. Speak to someone you trust, a counselor, or call a mental health helpline. You are never alone.