Donate to Adriel’s Fund here.
We’ve been overwhelmed with kind words and messages of support. Thank you. ♥️
The death of Mercy Baguma has provoked a necessary debate about the inhumanity of asylum and immigration policy in the U.K. Until we highlighted her story, not a single responsible agency – Police Scotland, Crown Office, Home Office – had said a word.
We are grateful to the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon for supporting any and all efforts to investigate the circumstances around Mercy’s death, including backing our call for a public inquiry into the accommodation crisis faced by asylum seekers in Glasgow during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is also good news that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to intervene with the Home Secretary Priti Patel to allow Eric Nnanna and Baby Adriel ‘s asylum situation to be resolved quickly so that they can remain in Scotland.
Thanks also to everyone who donated to Mercy’s appeal. The total sum raised is over £75K. From this, we settled repatriation and funeral costs. The remainder of funds will be put into trust for the sole benefit of Baby Adriel’s future education, to make Mercy proud. You can donate to Adriel’s Fund here. Here is a news piece about Adriel and dad Eric by BBC Reporting Scotland (Catriona Renton). Looking ahead, we aim to Eric and Baby Adriel so they can rebuild their lives.
Following our highlighting of Mercy’s story, there ensued a social media storm, which repeated unhelpful and false narratives about the cause of death. Only the results of a Post Mortem can provide that. We believe there have been significant procedural failures which prolonged the trauma and suffering of Baby Adriel and his father when Eric, and Mercy’s friends, tried but failed to reach her. Such failures have been hurting refugees in this city for sometime and need a light shone on them. People before profit.
I’ll end with this eulogy to Mercy from one of her friends who remains anonymous.
“To those that knew her, Mercy (Mina) Bamuga was a beautiful soul, fun loving and loud. You immediately knew when she was around. A distinct voice and laugh that filled the room. Mercy would call out your name first, laugh then hug you. Always dressed up , our pretty sassy lady was always on point. Hospitality came easy to her, life of the party, her home was a gathering when opened to others. A heaven of endless laughter , entertainment and joy. She was not your ordinary girl. Mercy opened up her home to me when I was in the toughest season of my life. With the little she had I was welcomed into her home for 8 months . Mercy gave up her own bed for me and she took the sofa for the duration I lived with her. I will never forget this gesture. When no one could take me in , family, or institutions, this beautiful soul took a homeless girl in, she gave me refuge, food and a roof over my head. I could breath for a while … Mercy Bamuga, a life cut short too soon a life of potential yet to become all its was meant to be. A hardworking woman who tried her best, lived large and loud. Unapologetically beautiful , black and proudly Ugandan, miss Mina, a music loving dancer who made hearts happy with epic stories, you gave the best hugs and I will miss them on this side of Heaven. Yours will be a life remembered not forgotten. Your son will know who you were to us. Praying for comfort to his tiny heart and your family. Am praying for resolution to every system that failed you. Praying for recognition for all the hidden help you gave to others is acknowledged.”
Keep up with the latest news and our new “Humans of Glasgow” project here. Or give a regular donation to our humanitarian work here . Please also like or follow us on social media, see below.
Robina Qureshi
(Read a timeline of Glasgow’s deadly accommodation crisis here)