By Emmanuel Nigel
Piemonte House
Date: Monday, March 10th, 2025
Benjamin Agaba, a supporter of National Resistance Movement [NRM] who set himself ablaze in front of the Parliament of Uganda on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025, has died yesterday Sunday, March 9th, 2025, at Kiruddu Hospital after enduring pains for two weeks. A painful situation as Benjamin Agaba poured petrol on his body before igniting his body.
His claim was that there was a prolonged neglect by the National Resistance Movement [NRM] over assistance he sought from his Political Party for over a year but only to be paid off with silence.
One of his friends who preferred anonymity says that Agaba had called him the previous night, expressing frustration over his futile attempts to get assistance from the National Resistance Movement [NRM] Secretariat and other offices. The victim had reportedly threatened to take his own life. He said that Benjamin Agaba, an artist from Kiboga District, had high hopes after composing a song praising President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's leadership. He expected a token of appreciation or recognition from the National Resistance Movement [NRM], but unfortunately, it didn't materialize last year. He told me that he was in National Unity Platform [NUP] in 2021 and later switched to National Resistance Movement [NRM], but some of his former colleagues were angered, allegedly attacking his home, injuring him, and setting his father's house on fire. His father, who had begged him to avoid politics, was disappointed in him and chased him away from home. He had been seeking compensation from National Resistance Movement [NRM] and justice from the police, but to no avail, his father had sent him away. These frustrations ultimately led him to contemplate taking his own life.
Personally, I think that all the Political Parties should pay maximum attention to its supporters - these supporters are their people. "The Death of Benjamin Agaba Who Set Himself Ablaze in Front of Parliament of Uganda: Need for Emotional and Psychological Support for the Youth" in Uganda as many young people are dying in silence as many have unfulfilled promises. The Youth are being misled by many Political Parties. This is so an excruciating we can't just lose a Citizen in this manner. We really need to help the Youth and talk to them not to live in the state of frustration and hopelessness despite the hardship of life even in the state of privation. We should be close to the Youth and the Young Ones. Moreso, there is need for counseling and guidance. We help the Youth to shun this kind of thought of taking their own lives.
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