Vigil to be held for Mercy Baguma in Glasgow as her body is flown to Uganda for burial

A candle-lit vigil is to be held for Mercy Baguma in Glasgow this weekend, to coincide with her burial in Uganda.

Mercy, also known as Masitula Baguma Nakendo, was 34 when she was found dead next to her crying 16-month-old baby at her Govan flat on August 22.

The vigil will be held by Mercy’s partner, Eric Nnanna, for their baby son, at Elder Park Boating Pond in Govan at 3pm on Saturday, September 12.

The body of Mercy is to be flown from Edinburgh to Entebbe in Uganda on September 11 for burial on Saturday evening.

© PAIH

Before her death, Mercy had been forced to stop working by Home Office policies for asylum seekers and was relying on friends and charities for help.

Eric Nnanna, 30, called emergency services after hearing his son crying through the door of Mercy’s Govan flat.

He believes Mercy died four days before her body was found, and told the Glasgow Times it was a “miracle” their son survived.

Ms Baguma’s death has sparked calls for reform of the asylum system in the UK.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “consumed with sadness” and anger at the death and said “wholesale reform” of the asylum system is needed, starting from “the principle of dignity, of empathy and of support for our fellow human beings”.

A spokesperson from Positive Action in Housing said: “As it is not possible to attend Mercy’s burial, Eric Nnanna will mark the occasion for their baby son Adriel with a socially distanced candle lit vigil to remember her life.

“Elder Park is a place that Mercy loved. She and Eric spent some happy days there with baby Adriel.”

Positive Action in Housing is hoping to raise £25,000 to help baby Adriel.

To donate to the fund, click here.