University of Dar es Salaam Student hangs himself to death

A first-year University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) student has committed suicide by hanging himself with his shirt in a guest house in the city. Kinondoni Regional Police Commander Charles Kenyela told The Citizen yesterday that Joseph Lugemalila, 21, killed himself at Rombo Guest House in Manzese last Saturday, just six days after reporting at the university. He said Lugemalila, who hailed from Ukerewe District, Mwanza Region, had on Friday checked into the guest house, where he registered himself as Dickson John. Police found in the room an envelope containing a suicide note, medical documents, school certificates, identity cards and various other documents. According to Mr Kenyela, Lugemalila said in the suicide note dated October 12: “I have decided to end my life because of a number of difficulties. I won’t succeed even if I decide to continue with my studies.” One of the documents found in the room showed that Lugemalila underwent a medical examination at the UDSM Dispensary on October 7, and the next day he received results showing that he was HIV-positive. “It’s possible he killed himself because of shock and a sense of hopelessness after he was diagnosed with HIV… a preliminary investigation has established that he killed himself on Saturday night and the body was discovered the following morning,” Mr Kenyela said. UDSM spokesperson Jackson Isidory confirmed that Lugemalila was a student at the university, but declined to give details and referred this reporter to the police. The student’s father, Mr Pastory Lugemalila, who had travelled to Dar es Salaam to collect the body, said: “My son called me about a week before his death, and told me that he was fine and happy to get accommodation at the main campus. His sudden death has shocked me.” The body was flown to Mwanza yesterday for burial in Ukerewe tomorrow.

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