P7 Leaver buns himself to death over poor PLE results

Dr Edris Kalanzi, head of burns and reconstructive surgery, disclosed that the young victim suffered extensive burns covering 90 percent of his body surface. Prior to his demise, Rusiba expressed feelings of unlovedness during a medical examination, emphasizing an underlying mental health issue.

Dr Kalanzi noted that the burn injuries were beyond recognition, with only a small part of the face surviving. Rusiba cited a lack of love, mentioning that only his brother cared for him.

Despite initial reports linking the tragedy to academic disappointment in the 2023 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), family members, such as the deceased’s aunt, revealed a history of emotional struggles.

The audio recording, which went viral, highlighted the distressing circumstances leading to Rusiba’s desperate act, involving a sense of isolation and mockery due to a speech impairment.

Contrary to earlier speculation about academic stress triggering the incident, the boy’s father, Mr. Musa Waligo, clarified that his son’s demise was likely rooted in emotional pain rather than poor academic performance.

recounted his son’s history of expressing suicidal thoughts related to feelings of being unloved and ridiculed for a speech impairment.

The tragic event unfolded when Rusiba, after completing routine activities with his siblings, obtained petrol, set himself ablaze in an outdoor bathroom, and was later discovered by concerned neighbors who rushed him to the hospital.