Uko’s family speaks on third day of public inquest

The past few days have been difficult for the family of Samwel Uko.

The former University of Saskatchewan Huskies football player was 20 years old when he died by drowning in Regina’s Wascana Lake on May 21, 2020.

He had sought medical help for mental health issues shortly before his death by going to a Regina hospital, but was turned away without getting any support.

Wednesday marked the third day of a public inquest into his death and members of his family spoke to the media to remember Uko and talk about what they’ve learned so far.

One reason they believe Uko was turned away is because he was Black.

“That’s the life we’re living as Black people. We’re always looking behind our backs,” Joice Bankando, Uko’s mother, told reporters during a media conference organized by the Black in Saskatchewan Society.

Uko’s uncle, Justin Nyee, said there’s one big thing he needs to know.

“We’re still waiting for the answer of who made the decision that Samwel should be thrown out of hospital. We need to know,” Nyee said.

It’s a decision that puzzles and haunts Nyee and the rest of the family.

Bankando spoke to reporters, sometimes translated through Nyee.

“The last two days have been very frustrating for me as a mother to sit there, listening to all of (these) liars … It kills me …,” she said. “For the last two days, I didn’t go to sleep. I’m struggling to (make) sense about what I’m hearing.”

It’s tough to look back on the young man she loved, knowing he’s not here today.

“Everyone in the community loved him. He was a good person,” she said. “People always come to the house just to talk to him, not me. He had that presence that would fill the room. So we need people to know that they took something from me that I cannot replace.”

Nyee is also heartbroken at the loss.

“He grew up to be a better man than who I am,” he said, choking back tears.

“It’s been hard for me to explain to his nieces why he’s not coming back home.”

Nyee criticized the hospital workers who turned away his nephew.

“Samwel was a good kid who was not fighting (and) who was not arguing. He was not drinking (and) he was not smoking. He was not doing anything and he was thrown outside,” Nyee said.

“Samwel did everything right. He went to the right place. And yet he was treated like a stranger,” Bankando added.

The inquest is expected to wrap up Monday.