By Asenath Were
Uganda Christian University (UCU) is mourning the tragic loss of two of its students, Lillian Kampi and Joanne Mirana Wanyana, whose untimely deaths in early September have left the university community in shock and grief. Kampi, a second-year Bachelor of Nursing Science student, was found dead in her hostel room on September 9, while Wanyana, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science Analytics student, passed away in a hospital just five days later on September 14. The exact cause of Kampi’s death remains unknown, as the post-mortem report has not yet been released.
The passing on of the young women who were both described as bright and promising individuals with a passion for their respective fields have saddened the university, friends and the rest of the student community.
Lillian Kampi, quiet but hardworking
The news of Lillian Kampi’s death came as a shock to her friends and classmates. Kampi, 23, had last been seen on Friday, September 6, during a lecture for the “Foundation of Nursing” course, which marked the start of the Advent semester. According to Ronald Kibirango, the class representative for BNS 2:1 and the general secretary of the UCU Nursing Students’ Association, Kampi did not show any signs of illness or stress during that lecture. She interacted with her classmates as usual, and even discussed her plans to work on a report assignment.
“Lillian was very disciplined and hardworking, she always put in effort with her coursework and presentations. She was good at what she did and was a bright student. No one had issues with her,” Kibirango said.
He added that Kampi was a reserved person, often keeping to herself. “Most of us didn’t know much about her personal life. She only shared what she wanted us to know,” he said.
Kampi was described by both her family and friends as a highly disciplined and ambitious student. According to Kibirango, her academic journey reflected her dedication. “Her family told us during the funeral that she had excelled in her Primary Seven exams, getting a score [aggregate] of 5, and 9 out of 8 in her Senior Four exams,” Kibirango shared.
However, in Senior Six, Kampi faced challenges balancing her subjects, which led her to pursue a Higher Education Certificate (HEC) in order to qualify for a career in medicine which is what she desired to pursue according to her friend, Irene Munaba.
Munaba, a third-year Bachelor of Nursing Science student and Kampi’s best friend, recalled their time together. “We met in 2022 during the application process for HEC at UCU,” Munaba said. “We became close friends and even shared a hostel room for two semesters. She was a good friend and we did almost everything together.”
Circumstances Surrounding Kampi’s Death
On the day of her death, Kampi was found in her hostel room at Yesu Mulungi, where she had recently moved just a week prior. Agrey Mugaya, a close friend, classmate, and hostel mate, recounted the chilling discovery. Mugaya had last seen Kampi on the evening of Friday, September 6, during their lecture. Over the weekend, he and other classmates assumed she had gone home, as her hostel room was locked with a padlock on the outside.
However, concerns began to rise when the hostel’s assistant custodian noticed house flies around Kampi’s room. Mugaya was approached on Monday, September 9, by the custodian, who expressed concern about the flies that were moving around her window and door.
“He asked me where Lillian was, and I told him I hadn’t seen her since Friday. I rushed to check her room, and by the time I got there, I saw many houseflies, and blood was seeping from underneath the door,” Mugaya said
Mugaya immediately informed his classmates and together with the custodian contacted the police, who forced open the door and found Kampi’s decomposing body. Her death left many unanswered questions, and the cause of death is still under investigation.
Health struggles
Mugaya, who worked with Kampi during their clinical recess at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, revealed that she had been dealing with health issues in recent months. During their time at the hospital, Kampi experienced abdominal pain and was advised to undergo a scan, which revealed an ovarian cyst, Mugaya said. “She was advised to have surgery to remove the cyst, but she was also receiving conflicting advice from people who suggested using herbal medicine instead,” Mugaya explained.
Kampi had planned to undergo the surgery in Jinja, but Mugaya says her father recommended that she have the procedure done in Kampala. However, by the time the new semester began, the surgery had not taken place. “I asked her about it, and she said it hadn’t been possible,” Mugaya said.
“Lillian was introverted and kept a lot to herself. It’s important to talk to someone and get guidance when you’re in pain or struggling,” he said.
Joanne Mirana Wanyana
Just five days after Kampi’s death, on September 14, news broke of the passing of Joanne Mirana Wanyana. She was a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Data Science Analytics 1:2 and had been hospitalised prior to her death. Details about the cause of her death remain unclear, but her passing was officially announced on different fora on social media including the UCU Students Guild X platform.
“We have woken up this morning with heavy hearts after hearing of the loss of our friend Joanne Mirana Wanyana, a student of Bachelor of Science in Data Science Analytics 1:2. Kindly receive our heartfelt condolences to her family,” the tweet said.
Pamela Tumwebaze, the Director of Students Affairs (DOSA), expressed her sorrow over the tragic losses. “It is unfortunate that we discovered Lillian’s death days later, she died in a room without immediate neighbors on either side, and no one was aware,” Tumwebaze said.
Both students were laid to rest in their respective hometowns, with Kampi being buried in her home village of Nawanyago in Kamuli District on September 11 while Joanne Mirana Wanyana was buried at her ancestral home in Kakoro Village, Butembo District on September 19.
As the UCU community continues to process these losses, there has been a renewed call for students to prioritize their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Munaba, Kampi’s best friend, urged students to open up to their parents and trusted individuals about personal challenges. “Lillian didn’t tell her parents everything,” she said. “We need to encourage each other to speak up, especially when we’re dealing with stress and health issues.”
