HORROR AND ANGER AFTER DEATH OF MUM WITH ‘STARVING’ BABY BY HER SIDE

SHE took her son to toddler’s group, she relied on the African community for food, she died in a city flat with her baby by her side.

Mercy Baguma was, according to friends, “loved by all”.

A single mother in her 30s, the Ugandan national lived with her one-year-old son in Govan.

Her body was found there on Saturday, with her “starving” youngster by her side.

It is thought that he may have gone without food or care for several days as friends had not heard from his mother for four days.

It is understood that she had health problems and had been “functionally destitute” since losing her right to work when her leave to remain expired. It is at this point she is said to have claimed asylum.

The baby, who has not been named, is now in the custody of his father, following medical treatment.

Friends of Baguma aimed to raise £10,000 to pay for her funeral expenses and provide for her son.

The crowdfunder was launched two days ago and news of her death reached the media yesterday morning, when the charity Positive Action in Housing called for a thorough investigation, related to broader concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow.

The news provoked outcry and an outpouring of support for Baguma’s loved ones, sending the crowdfunder past £17000 within hours as the tragic circumstances of her death became one of the biggest topics on social media.

By 7pm, more than 12,000 tweets about Mercy Baguma had been sent across the UK.

Some of these were from friends at African Challenge Scotland, which had delivered a food parcel to Baguma just a fortnight before her death.

A short video recorded at her doorstop showed her accepting cooking oil, milk and bags of vegetables, saying: “We are so very grateful.”

The charity told this newspaper all members are “very sad” about Baguma’s death.

The Home Office has pledged to investigate what happened.

But many of those responding to the news related it to immigration policy.

Glasgow Greens councillor Kim Long said: “Mercy Baguma’s death is appalling. She was no longer allowed to work and forced into destitution – a trap created by UK Government rules which deliberately remove all safety nets.

“A baby has been starved