HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I A tragic hit-and-run accident has claimed the life of a 34-year-old woman along the busy Mbale–Tirinyi Road in Budaka District, raising fresh concerns over reckless driving on Uganda’s highways.
The deceased, identified as Wamanji, a cook at a local school and resident of Bukomba Village in Lyama Town Council, died instantly after being struck by a speeding vehicle on March 21, 2026. The fatal incident occurred at Nangoma Kubiri, a known black spot along the highway.
According to Bukedi North Regional Police spokesperson ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the motor vehicle, registration number UBE 858Y, was traveling from Mbale towards Kampala when it knocked the victim, who was reportedly walking along the roadside from the Budaka direction.
“The driver did not stop at the scene after the crash but was later intercepted at the Tirinyi checkpoint,” Kyempasa confirmed.
The suspect has been identified as Rabadiya Sandeep Ramiji, a 41-year-old Indian national and site supervisor with Hariom Establishment Ltd. He is currently in police custody as investigations into the incident continue. Preliminary findings point to speeding as the likely cause of the accident.
A team of traffic officers from Budaka Police Station, led by the District Traffic Officer, visited and documented the scene. The victim’s body was later transported to Budaka Health Centre IV for postmortem examination.
The Mbale–Tirinyi Road is a key transport corridor linking eastern Uganda to the capital, Kampala, but has in recent years recorded a growing number of fatal accidents, often attributed to speeding, poor road discipline, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.
Police have urged motorists to exercise caution, adhere to speed limits, and remain vigilant, especially in trading centers and populated areas, to prevent further loss of life.
