Suicide cases are many amongst South Sudanese asylum seekers, in Uganda. Why?

New arrivals, escaping South Sudan war, at a UNHCR reception center of asylum seekers in Uganda’s Koboko district. They fled their country during the height of the violent conflict of 2016. Picture by Ochan Hannington | 06 Sep 2016

South Sudanese Refugees Association began trauma-healing center around a UNHCR reception point of asylum seekers, near Uganda-South Sudan border area. Even though there are no known records on the number of suicides, many asylum seekers from South Sudan kill themselves within first 3 months of their stay, in Uganda. The chairperson, Aringu Peter, of the association argues they want to save fellow South Sudanese from taking their own life. Our reporter, Bakole Xavier, asked him what compelled him and his colleagues to establish the center, particularly in Uganda’s town of Koboko.