By Denis Omony
Police on Friday rescued a man, suspected to be mentally ill, from jumping into the fast-flowing waters of the River Nile at Karuma Bridge in Nwoya district.
The man, only identified as Ashraf, believes to be around 23years of age, had boarded a bus from Kampala, according to a bus ticket found on him.
Security personnel stationed at Karuma Bridge became suspicious of his strange behavior around the area and quickly intervened and arrested him.
Ashraf claimed he was acting on instructions from a mystic power that had told him to jump into the Nile River so that they can float together up to Egypt and back.
Ashraf, who is suspected to be suffering from psychiatric challenges, also revealed that he had lost both parents and could not recall any of his relatives. He had since been referred to the Psychiatric Unit at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
David Ongom Mudong, the Police Spokesperson for Aswa West Region, confirmed the incident and said efforts are underway to trace Ashraf’s relatives.
Mental health is a growing concern among Ugandan youth, with a significant portion experiencing psychological distress and mental health challenges.
Factors like substance abuse, academic stress, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these issues, particularly among out-of-school adolescents.
Limited access to mental health services and inadequate funding for mental health initiatives further compound the problem.
