Mustafa Lule, a 17-year-old resident of Kawempe was earlier this month seen standing on top of Mabirizi Complex, a six-floor building downtown Kampala before he jumped off with several onlookers watching in shock.
Lule survived the deadly suicidal fall with severe injuries after landing on car that was parked by the roadside.
He was on Friday discharged from Mulago national referral hospital where he had spent close to 3 weeks under intensive care.
Attempting suicide has always been unacceptable and if someone dies, definitely there is nothing that can be done, but if someone survives a suicide attempt, they are charged, according to the criminal act of Uganda.
Suicide attempt is publishable by Law however, “the police have decided to look the other way”, as Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Emillian Kayima confirmed to The Observer.
“Committing suicide is… a crime, and someone can be arrested and charged for attempted suicide. However, for Lule’s case, we are not pursuing the charges against him now,” he said.
Lule says he fell off the six-storied building due to work-related stress, which was exacerbated when he was sacked.
According to the Observer, Namakula, Lule’s mother, says his medical bills have already reached Shs 2 million, she will need another Shs 2.5m for the upcoming reviews.
The news paper also reports that a psychiatrist who carried out an assessment of Lule’s condition has recommended that they visit Butabika hospital after two weeks, but Namakula says that will also need money.
marvin@ugchristiannews.com
