The Ugandan community in Germany is in mourning following the tragic death of 23-year-old Samantha Twinomugisha, who passed away earlier this week in the town of Kleve.
Family members and close friends say Samantha had been going through intense emotional distress in the period leading up to her death. Her mother, whose name has been withheld, revealed that her daughter felt isolated and deeply hurt by people within the community where she had been living.
According to the family, Samantha had recently been accused by two Ugandan women of having romantic relationships with their husbands. Her mother, however, strongly dismissed the claims, explaining that Samantha was only involved in legitimate business dealings with the men. She believes the accusations stemmed from a misunderstanding after the women allegedly found messages between Samantha and their husbands.
A close friend identified as Nakigozi shared that one of the last messages Samantha sent to her mother carried a troubling message of despair. In it, she reportedly wrote that no one was standing up for her and that she felt no one believed her.
Samantha was born and raised in Mukono District and began her education at Seeta High School before continuing to Nabisunsa Girls School. She later joined Makerere University, where she pursued her studies before earning a scholarship to further her education in Germany. At the time of her death, she was a second-year university student.
Following the tragedy, friends and colleagues launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising €16,000 to facilitate the return of her body to Uganda for burial. In their tribute, they described Samantha as a young woman full of hope, determination, and kindness, noting that she touched many lives with her warmth and compassion.
Her death has sparked renewed conversations within both the Ugandan diaspora and at home about mental health, social pressure, and the emotional challenges young people face while living abroad.