Mercy Baguma: Family of Ugandan asylum seeker cancel memorial service

Her father said the family was waiting for more detailed information about her death.

A planned prayer service in Uganda for an asylum seeker found dead in her flat in Glasgow has been cancelled by her family.

Mercy Baguma’s body was found next to her malnourished baby in her flat in Govan last week.

Police said her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

Mercy Baguma’s body was found next to her malnourished baby in her flat in Govan last week.

The 34-year-old’s father, Abdul Nakendo, told journalists on Saturday that a memorial service in her home town of Bugiri in Uganda would be postponed.

He blamed the media attention surrounding her death and the fact that his family was still waiting for more detailed information from UK authorities.

The family expects the results of a post-mortem on September 4.

Mr Nakendo said: "Preparations are under way to return her body in two weeks' time. As a family we have decided she should rest in peace."

A Gofundme page has raised more than £50,000 for Mercy’s funeral.

Organisers on the page wrote that they were “devastated” by Mercy’s death, describing her as “an amazing mother, sister, best friend” and “loved by all”.

“Mercy was always positive and always put her family first, especially her son,” they wrote.

“Her smile made everyone so welcome and comfortable.”

Explaining the reason for the fundraiser, they wrote: “We are raising money to give her a proper send off and something for her son.

“Please consider helping out her loved ones through this difficult time as they navigate this tragedy and move forward in life without her.

“Donations will go directly to her son [and] family to help with end of life costs and future expenses,” they finished.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in the Scottish Parliament that she felt "consumed with sadness" and anger after learning of the incident.

She called for a complete reform of the UK's "deeply inhumane" asylum system.

The charity Positive Action in Housing (PAIH) said it understands that Ms Baguma lost her job after her limited leave to remain expired and she was no longer allowed to work.

It said that, after living in “extreme poverty”, she claimed asylum and was relying on food from friends and charitable organisations.

The human rights charity said it is the “third tragedy to affect the city’s refugee population in as many months” after a Syrian refugee was found dead in his room at a guest house in May, and, in June, Badreddin Abadlla Adam was shot dead by police after six people were injured in a knife attack at the Park Inn Hotel.

Positive Action in Housing director Robina Qureshi said: “Mercy contacted our charity on August 11 and said she was not getting any financial support, yet had made an application to MigrantHelp.

“Had she lived, she would have been a high priority for a crisis payment from our Emergency Relief Fund like hundreds of others left functionally destitute by the asylum system.

“The question remains: why are mothers and babies being left to go hungry in this city? Why is it being left to charities and volunteers to pick up the pieces?”

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