Bugiri, Uganda — A fisheries officer attached to Bugiri District has died following a fatal road crash along the Tororo–Jinja highway after the taxi he was travelling in was involved in a serious collision, authorities have confirmed.
The incident occurred on Tuesday on one of eastern Uganda’s busiest transport corridors. According to preliminary findings by the Uganda Police Force, the taxi was involved in a high-impact crash that left the officer dead at the scene and several other passengers injured.
Police say the driver of the taxi fled immediately after the accident and is currently on the run.
“We are actively pursuing the driver who abandoned the scene,” a police spokesperson said. “He will face charges of reckless driving and causing death once apprehended.”
Authorities suspect that dangerous driving linked to intense competition for passengers—commonly referred to as “stage wars”—may have contributed to the crash. Witnesses reported chaotic driving behavior in the moments leading up to the collision.
The injured passengers were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment, though officials have not yet released details on their conditions.
The Tororo–Jinja highway, a key transport route connecting eastern Uganda to major commercial hubs, has long been identified as a blackspot for road accidents. Authorities frequently cite speeding, reckless overtaking, and indiscipline among public service vehicle operators as major causes of crashes along the route.
In Bugiri District, the death has sparked shock and grief. The deceased officer was described by colleagues as a dedicated public servant who played an important role in supporting local fishing communities and enforcing fisheries regulations.
The fisheries sector remains a critical part of Uganda’s economy, regulated under the mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Uganda), which oversees fisheries management and compliance nationwide.
Local leaders have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and tougher penalties for reckless drivers, warning that continued indiscipline on the roads is leading to avoidable loss of life.
Police investigations into the crash are ongoing as efforts to apprehend the fleeing driver continue.
