Betting Gone Wrong: Fan Commits Suicide Over Arsenal’s Loss to Monaco

Police in Mbarara, western Uganda, are investigating a case in which a soccer fan is said to have committed suicide following Arsenal Football Club’s loss to Monaco last Wednesday.

Deus Ruhindi, a resident of Kakiika in Mbarara district is said to have hanged himself after he lost a betting stake worth Shs500,000 when Monaco walloped Arsenal 3-1 in a European champions league fixture.

His body was on Friday found hanging on an avocado tree in the family banana plantation.

An eye witness said the Friday tragedy resulted from a betting receipt gone wrong.

Ruhindi, a bodaboda rider had reportedly used his employer’s money to bet. Upon receiving the bad news (from the bet), the deceased is said to have moved back to his home village and committed suicide.

The witnesses said, Ruhindi, an orphan had narrated his story to some of his relatives – many of whom condemned him.

He became more depressed when his guardians reportedly rebuked him and vowed not to help him pay the debt.

The deceased left behind a suicide note, explaining why he committed suicide but requested his relatives to pay his debt. Local Police was called at the scene and it allowed the relatives to carry on with the burial.

Ruhinda’s ordeal is another of the many suicide and stress related cases arising from betting and passionate cheering of sports events.

The stories of people staking household property, cheaply selling off valuables to raise money for betting and husbands staking wives and children are common in Uganda.