SHE took her son to toddlers’ group, she relied on the African community for food, she died in a city flat with her baby by her side.

Mercy Baguma was, according to friends, “loved by all”.

A single mother in her 30s, the Ugandan national lived with her one-year-old son in Glasgow’s Govan district.

Her body was found there on Saturday, with her “starving” youngster by her side.

It is thought that he may have gone without food or care for several days as friends had not heard from his mother for four days.

It is understood that she had health problems and had been “functionally destitute” since losing her right to work when her leave to remain expired.

It is at this point she is said to have claimed asylum.

The baby, who has not been named, is now in the custody of his father, following medical treatment.

READ MORE: Mercy Baguma: Mum 'found dead beside baby' in Glasgow flat

Friends of Baguma aimed to raise £10,000 to pay for her funeral expenses and provide for her son.

The crowdfunder was launched two days ago and news of her death reached the media yesterday morning, when the charity Positive Action in Housing called for a thorough investigation, related to broader concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers in Glasgow.

The news provoked outcry and an outpouring of support for Baguma’s loved ones, sending the crowdfunder past £21,000 within hours as the tragic circumstances of her death became one of the biggest topics on social media.

By 7pm, more than 12,000 tweets about Mercy Baguma had been sent across the UK.

Some of these were from friends at African Challenge Scotland, which had delivered a food parcel to Baguma just a fortnight before her death.

A short video recorded at her doorstop showed her accepting cooking oil, milk and bags of vegetables, saying: “We are so very grateful.”

The charity told this newspaper all members are “very sad” about Baguma’s death.

The Home Office has pledged to investigate what happened.

But many of those responding to the news related it to immigration policy.

Glasgow Greens councillor Kim Long said: “Mercy Baguma’s death is appalling. She was no longer allowed to work and forced into destitution – a trap created by UK Government rules which deliberately remove all safety nets.

READ MORE: Protest planned at Immigration offices following death of Mercy Baguma in Glasgow flat​

“A baby has been starved and robbed of his mother and a woman of her life. This was preventable and is outrageous.”

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre stated: “No woman or child should ever lose her life in this way.

“We are deeply saddened and alarmed by these news. Our thoughts are with Mercy Baguma’s loved ones.”

The charity Bemis said: “The asylum system needs ripped up. Humanity and empathy must be at the heart of it, not suspicion and punishment.

“The pandemic has illuminated just how heartless and dangerous it is.”

And Glasgow SNP councillor Jen Layden commented: “The tragic death of a young mum, Mercy, is devastating and my heart goes out to her young son, family and friends.

“I repeat my previous calls, echoed by political colleagues and third sector, that the Home Office must provide better support for all asylum seekers in the city.”

PAIH director Robina Qureshi said: “Mercy contacted our charity on August 11 and said she was not getting any financial support yet and had made an application to Migrant Help.

“Had she lived she would have been a high priority for a crisis payment from our Emergency Relief Fund like hundreds of others left functionally destitute by the asylum system.

“The question remains, why are mothers and babies being left to go hungry in this city, and why is it being left to charities and volunteers to pick up the pieces?

“Does society have anything to say other than call them a drain on society? Would this mother be alive if she was not forced out of her job by this cruel system that stops you from working and paying your way because a piece of paper says your leave to remain has expired? I’m sure Mercy’s son will want to ask this and other questions once he is old enough.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This is a tragic situation and our condolences go to Ms Baguma’s family. 

“The Home Office takes the wellbeing of all those in the asylum system extremely seriously, and we will be conducting a full investigation into Ms Baguma’s case.”