Uganda Police have spoken out on circumstances under which Hajjati Nabukalu Nusura, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Budaka, and her driver, Khalid Waiswa, tragically died in a road accident in Musita Village, Mayuge District, Eastern Uganda. The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon, around 4:30 pm, on the Jinja-Iganga Highway when the Isuzu Double Cabin vehicle, registration number UG 4803C, driven by Waiswa, collided head-on with a trailer, registration number KDH 025V. 

According to the police, the accident happened as Waiswa attempted to overtake another vehicle. Busoga East Region Police Commander, Mr. Norman Musinga, said “the driver (Waiswa) was coming from the Iganga side heading towards Jinja direction while overtaking when he collided head-on with the oncoming trailer, killing the passenger (Nusura) of UG 4803C on the spot.”  Waiswa was later pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Hajjati Nabukalu, who was also the Chairperson of the Busoga Women Leaders Association (BWELA), was en route to officiate at a function in Iganga District, where she was scheduled to attend alongside Namayingo Resident District Commissioner, David Kulaba Isabirye.

The tragic accident highlights a growing concern in Uganda, where road accidents remain a leading cause of death and injury.  According to the Uganda Police Force, there were 18,188 road accidents reported in 2023 alone, leading to 3,659 fatalities and 12,788 injuries. This alarming trend has been attributed to factors such as poor road conditions, speeding, and reckless driving, particularly during overtaking maneuvers like the one that led to the fatal crash involving Nabukalu. 

The accident has shocked the nation, and tributes have poured in from across Uganda, with many expressing admiration for Nabukalu’s tireless service and commitment to her community.