WAKISO, Uganda — A handwritten note reportedly recovered from a senior four student at Naalya Senior Secondary School’s Bweyogerere campus has become a key focus of investigations into his death, with police urging the public to avoid speculation until forensic examinations and inquiries are completed.
The note was reportedly discovered after the body of 18-year-old Naish Trevor Mamuz was found hanging inside a toilet block at the school on Wednesday evening, an incident that has shocked students, teachers and parents while reigniting concerns about mental health challenges among learners.
However, police have cautioned that the circumstances surrounding the death remain under active investigation and that the contents of the note should not be treated as conclusive evidence.
Police verifying circumstances of death
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, investigators are examining both the circumstances under which the student died and the authenticity of the handwritten note recovered at the scene.
“The note has been secured and is being examined as part of the investigation. We want to establish whether he indeed took his own life or not. We do not want people to speculate at this stage. We shall also establish whether the note was written by him or by someone else,” Owoyesigyire said.
Police officers responded to the school after receiving reports that a student had been found hanging in the boys’ toilet section.
Detectives documented the scene, recorded statements from witnesses and transferred the body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination.
The findings of the postmortem are expected to help investigators determine the exact cause of death and whether any other factors may have been involved.
School says student had faced health challenges
Naalya Senior Secondary School spokesperson Dr John Bossa said the note was reportedly recovered after police opened the toilet where the student’s body was found.
According to Bossa, the note suggested that the student had been experiencing emotional distress and felt misunderstood.
He also revealed that the learner had recently experienced health-related challenges and had previously been granted permission to return home for treatment before resuming his studies approximately a week ago.
Bossa said school administrators believed the student had readjusted well after returning.
“He appeared to have settled back into school life, was performing well academically and was interacting normally with fellow students,” Bossa said.
The school’s leadership described the incident as unexpected and deeply distressing for both staff and learners.
Family awaits investigation findings
The student’s mother, Vivian Lekuru, said the family remains devastated by the loss and is waiting for police investigations to establish exactly what happened.
She indicated that relatives would refrain from making public statements until authorities complete their inquiry.
The case has drawn widespread attention, with parents, education stakeholders and mental health advocates calling for a thorough investigation and increased support systems for learners experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties.
Growing concern over student mental health
The tragedy has renewed debate about mental health challenges facing students in Uganda’s education system.
In recent years, schools and universities have reported several incidents involving student deaths, self-harm and severe emotional distress, prompting calls for stronger counselling services and early intervention programmes.
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Mental health specialists say adolescents often face multiple pressures, including academic expectations, family challenges, social isolation, bullying and personal struggles that may go unnoticed without adequate support systems.
Education experts have repeatedly urged schools to strengthen counselling departments, improve student welfare programmes and create environments where learners feel safe discussing emotional challenges.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has previously acknowledged the importance of learner wellbeing and encouraged institutions to prioritise psychosocial support alongside academic achievement.
As investigations continue, authorities have appealed for patience and responsible reporting while police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The Uganda Police Force said further updates will be provided once forensic examinations and witness interviews are completed.
