A primary teacher in Kamuli district has taken his own life allegedly due to accumulated debts.

Jimmy Buyonga, 32, a teacher at Kasambira Preparatory primary school in Bugulumbya sub-county in eastern Uganda hanged himself at the school premises.

Rose Namukose, a resident of Bukapere village, where the school is located, says that the school has not paid its teachers since the closure of schools in March 2020.

Schools across the country have remained closed to contain the spread of coronavirus disease COVID-19, a disease which spreads from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

Saddam Byakika, another resident testifies that Buyonga had acquired loans from numerous money lenders in anticipation that schools would reopen soon. He explains that it came as no surprise to many of his neighbours when Buyonga’s body was found in the morning dangling from the P.7 classroom.

“Unfortunately, the loan sharks were ever on his neck over defaulting on payments. One time they came up to his home threatening to attach his household property,” he narrates.

Michael Kasadha, the Busoga North police spokesperson says that the body has been taken to Kamuli General hospital for post-mortem.

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