TRAGIC MOTHER DEAD BESIDE HER STARVING BABY
Fresh anger over asylum policy as young woman dies in ‘extreme poverty’ after losing her right to remain
A MOTHER may have lain dead for days in a city flat with her ‘starving’ and distraught baby boy beside her, it emerged last night.
Mercy Baguma’s body was found on Saturday with the crying infant at her side after friends raised the alarm when she had not been seen for four days.
The 34-year-old asylum seeker, from Uganda, had been living in Govan, Glasgow.
Miss Baguma had worked in a restaurant in the city and was a charity volunteer. But she was said to have been in ‘extreme poverty’ after losing her job following the expiration of her leave to remain in the UK.
Last night, church leaders called it ‘a terrible indictment’ on society that the mother and child had been in such desperate need.
Police officers found Miss Baguma’s lifeless body at her flat on August 22. Friends had not heard from her since August 18.
Her one-year-old son is said to have been found ‘crying beside his mother’s body, weakened from starvation’, and was taken to
hospital. The cause of death is not yet known, although it has been said that she suffered from ‘health problems’.
The charity Positive Action in Housing (PAIH) said it understands Miss Baguma lost her job after her limited leave to remain expired and she was no longer allowed to work.
It added that, after living in ‘extreme poverty’, she claimed asylum and was relying on food from friends and charitable organisations.
Community organisation African Challenge Scotland (ACS) provided a food parcel and toiletries to Miss Baguma in June. A video on its Facebook page showed her accepting a delivery as she thanked it for helping ‘in this difficult time’.
In the video she said: ‘It’s because of you guys and your kindness that we are able to get something that is from our own country and enjoy it. Because of that we are very grateful.’
ACS described Miss Baguma as ‘an amazing mother, sister, best friend and friend loved by all’. It added: ‘Mercy was always positive and always put her family first, especially her son. Her smile made everyone so welcome and comfortable. Mercy had health problems [but] her death was sudden and unexpected.’
Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Church of Scotland faith impact forum, said: ‘To hear any story of a mother and child in need in our land, who have not had access to the very basic necessities of life, is an incredibly sad thing.
‘It is a terrible indictment on our society if we have allowed someone in so much need, to feel they have no one they can turn to and feel they deserve no help. This is not the Scotland we need to be.’
PAIH said Miss Baguma’s death is the ‘third tragedy to affect the city’s refugee population in as many months’.
In May, Syrian refugee Adnan Walid Elbi, 30, was found dead in his room at a guest house.
The following month, Sudanese asylum seeker Badreddin Abadlla Adam was shot dead by police after six people were injured in a knife attack at the Park Inn Hotel.
PAIH 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?
‘Would this mother be alive if she was not forced out of her job by this cruel system that stops you from working and paying your way because a piece of paper says your leave to remain has expired?
‘I’m sure Mercy’s son will want
to ask this and other questions once he is old enough.’
PAIH said Miss Baguma’s son was released from hospital on Monday and is being cared for by his father, who lives in Glasgow.
The charity is calling for a public inquiry into the death and into asylum seeker accommodation.
A Police Scotland spokesman said Miss Baguma’s death was ‘being treated as unexplained but not suspicious’.
A Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service spokesman said: ‘The Procurator Fiscal has received a report in connection with the death of a 34-year-old woman in Glasgow on 22 August 2020. The investigation is ongoing.’
Jen Layden, Glasgow City Council’s convener for equalities and human rights, said: ‘We are currently trying to establish the full facts of Mercy’s case and await additional information from the Home Office.’
Two online appeals have been set up to raise money for Miss Baguma’s funeral and for her son, with thousands already donated.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The Home Office takes the wellbeing of all those in the asylum system extremely seriously, and we will be conducting a full investigation into Miss Baguma’s case.’
Glasgow Labour MP Paul Sweeney tweeted: ‘It’s heartbreaking to think about what must have been going through Mercy Baguma’s mind in her final days.’