The body of a Kyambogo University student who went missing last week has been found at the City Mortuary in Mulago, ending days of anxious searching by his family and friends and reigniting concerns about the safety of students living off campus.
Okia Aaron, a third-year Bachelor of Business Administration student, was discovered at the mortuary on Monday, six days after he disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
According to his classmates, Aaron, who lived in Bweyogerere, left home in the early hours of Thursday to report for work but never returned. They say he intentionally left his mobile phones behind, fearing they could be stolen, as the area had reportedly become notorious for phone-snatching incidents.
His classmates believe Aaron was attacked by suspected criminals at around 5:00 a.m. while walking to work. He was allegedly struck on the head with a heavy object, believed to be a paving stone, and left unconscious by the roadside.
Good Samaritans reportedly found him and rushed him to a nearby health facility, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival due to severe head injuries. Medical personnel later informed police, who transferred the body to City Mortuary for preservation as investigations got underway.
With no knowledge of his whereabouts, Aaron’s family and fellow students launched a search after realizing he had failed to return home. They circulated missing person alerts in the hope of tracing him.
Their search came to a tragic end when a health worker who had treated the victim recognized the circulated information and contacted the family, confirming that the unidentified patient had been taken to the City Mortuary.
Aaron’s body is expected to be transported to his ancestral home in Pallisa District for burial.
Friends and classmates described him as a warm, humble and hardworking young man whose death has left the university community devastated.
“It is heartbreaking to lose someone with such a promising future. He was friendly, respectful and always willing to help others. We hope the police will identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice,” one of his classmates said.
Police and Kyambogo University management have confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding Aaron’s death are ongoing, with authorities expected to issue a formal statement after preliminary inquiries.
Aaron’s death adds to a growing list of tragic incidents involving Kyambogo University students in recent months. In June, first-year student Juma Bumba died after he was reportedly set ablaze in his hostel room. Earlier, another student, Brighton Kamugisha, died from complications linked to hypertrophic heart disease.
The recent incidents have renewed calls for improved security around student residences and greater protection for students living outside university premises, as families and the university community continue to mourn the loss of young lives under tragic circumstances.
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