Residents of Kyakatagwa village in Ndolo parish, Kabira sub-county in Kyotera District were left in shock after a 16-year-old girl committed suicide allegedly in protesting the arrest of her 25-year-old boyfriend.

The minor had reportedly been dating the boda-boda cyclist for more than four months.

Locals said her parents had earlier warned her to stop seeing the cyclist but she was adamant which prompted them to cause his arrest.

Mr Richard Kalanzi, the Kabira LC III Chairperson said the cyclist was arrested after he was found with the minor.

She, however, “threatened to do something” to herself if they did not release him immediately but her parents did not take her seriously.

“She threatened to do something strange if her parents did not order for the release of her boyfriend but no one cared. She then picked her sweater and left home. She jumped into fast-flowing River Kyatakagwa," he added.

He appealed to parents to always be cautious when dealing with minors, especially in such cases.

Ms Judith Akello, the Kyotera District Police Commander (DPC), said they had started investigating the case as the search for her body was underway by the time of filing this story.