MALE YOUTH ALLEGEDLY MENTALLY ILL ATTEMPT SUICIDE, RESCUED FROM ELECTRIC POLE IN MBARARA

By Aggrey Twesigye
In Mbarara

Mbarara male youth who was rescued from a high voltage electricity line had mental impairment, Police says.

Yesterday at around 3:00Pm, Mbarara city was brought to tention after a man believed to be in his early 20’s was rescued from a high voltage electricity line at Amazon building in Mbarara city after attempt to end his life.

Addressing journalists, on Wednesday at Mbarara Central Police Station, ASP Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi police Spokesperson identified the victim as a one Frank who is suspected to be mentally ill.

He added that the victim is now undergoing thorough medical checkups at Mbarara regional referral hospital.

Kasasira however said that if the suspect is found to be normal, charges of attempted suicide will be preferred against him.

Byron Beine, the Operations Manager UMEME Mbarara Branch told our reporter that they were called out following an incidence of a young man who had climbed an electric pole.

Beine added that the UMEME technical team was alert and immediately called the control center to switch off the electricity line to Mbarara city and kakoba respectively and by the time the victim reached the lines the electricity was off.

According to the electricity act of 1999, any person who tempers with or adjusts an installation or part of an installation is viable to 50 currency points or imprisonment.

Thomas Kabagambe Tutamwebwa, the Principal Psychiatric Clinical officer at Mbarara regional referral hospital intimated to our reporter that victim might have escaped from the Unit as they don’t have his records nor his traces.