By Hanning Mbabazi
Kampala: There was shock and Chaos at Kiruddu Referral Hospital on Thursday September 12, evening when a patient jumped off the 8th floor of the hospital to end his life.
The deceased was identified as Faustine Musinzi, 56 years old and a resident of Kisozi, Gomba District.
It is not clear what could have triggered Musinzi to commit suicide, but other patients told police that he had been experiencing a lot of pain.
Deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident that Musinzi, from Gomba District, jumped from the eighth floor on Thursday at around 8 pm and fell on the concrete dying instantly. After the incident, Police from Kampala South Regional headquarters at Katwe rushed to Kiruddu and removed the body amidst cries from other patients and caretakers.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health said, Musinzi was admitted three weeks ago in a critical condition, having missed some dialysis sessions before the admission.
“According to the dialysis team, he was admitted with breathlessness, having missed some dialysis sessions before admission. He also had a pneumonia that health workers managed, and he had improved. He was waiting for the morning dialysis session,” Ainebyoona said.
He added that Musinzi caught hospital staff by surprise as health workers and other patients thought he was moving around the stairs perhaps to gain some energy.
Two years ago, a 17-year-old Mustafa Lule jumped off Mabirizi Complex rooftop and landed on parked cars.
Lule sustained life-damaging injuries. He told journalists that he was tired of loitering on the streets without any job.
A person who attempts to commit suicide commits an offense commonly known as a misdemeanor and the sentence doesn’t exceed 2 years.
