Immaculate Wereh, the Fisheries Officer for Bugiri District, has died after a road crash on Monday afternoon along the Tororo–Jinja Highway, about 10 miles from Tororo at Papoli Trading Centre.
Wereh was a passenger in taxi registration UBR 018F, which was travelling from Tororo to Kampala when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The taxi veered off the road and overturned multiple times before coming to a stop. Eyewitnesses confirmed they saw the crash unfold in the early afternoon.
Moses Mugwe, the police spokesperson for the Bukedi South region, said the crash happened at around 1:00pm. Preliminary police findings suggest the taxi driver was racing against a rival taxi for passengers, a practice that ultimately led to the fatal loss of control.
“The taxi that overturned was overtaking when the driver realised a cargo truck was ahead and lost control,” Mugwe said.
Mugwe added that tip-offs from the public suggest both drivers had received calls alerting them that passengers were waiting at Mile 11, and that both rushed to reach the stop first. After the crash, the competing taxi reportedly drove away without picking up those passengers, apparently out of fear of being linked to the accident.
Six other occupants of the taxi sustained critical injuries and were rushed to several health facilities, including Tororo District Referral Hospital. Police said the injured had not yet been formally identified, as their condition remained critical at the time of reporting.
Authorities have attributed the crash to speeding, reckless driving and inconsiderate use of the road, though Mugwe stressed that investigations are still ongoing.
“We have not concluded on the exact cause, but investigations have been initiated,” he said, urging the public to be careful about the transport they choose to board.
The taxi driver fled the scene after the crash and has not been apprehended. Police have since launched a manhunt for him.
“We condole with the families of the victims. We are tracing the driver so that he is held responsible for the loss of life and injuries,” Mugwe said.
The crash is a grim addition to Uganda’s worsening road safety record. According to figures released by the Traffic Police in March 2026, road traffic deaths in the country reached 5,383 in 2025, an average of 15 people killed every day.
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