39 people commit suicide in refugee camps - New report

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which came out today, Thursday, October 12, indicates a slight decline in suicide rates compared to last year and 2o21 where the numbers were much higher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report which analyses suicide incidents in the refugee community shows that a total of 39 people committed suicide over the past 9 months in the different refugee camps.

Another 161 people attempted suicide in the same period according to the report, while 17 attempted suicide more than once.

Of the 39 who took their own lives, 13 were Ugandan nationals while 26 were foreign refugees.

The majority of the deceased (87%) were male, while most of those who made failed suicide attempts (61%) were female.

The report also shows that the commonest method used was hanging by rope followed by poison and drug overdose.

Family misunderstandings were found to be the biggest trigger of these suicide incidents followed, by lack of basic needs, domestic violence, financial problems, and mental illness.

Up to 26 six attempted suicide due to abandonment by their spouses, while four were compelled by forced marriage to try and take their own lives.

Kyangwali Refugee Settlement camp in Kikuube district had the highest number of deaths by suicide (7), followed by Lobule in Koboko (5) and Palorinya in Moyo district (4).

Rwamwanja and Nakivale had 4 and 3 deaths, respectively, according to the report.

Last year, a total of 60 people took their own lives in the refugee settlements.