Budaka, Uganda: Two people have died in a head-on collision between a motorcycle and a Mercedes Benz along the busy Mbale–Tirinyi Road in Kamonkoli, Budaka District.
The fatal crash occurred on Friday, April 17, 2026, at around 11:05am.
The deceased have been identified as Tumusiime Fred, a motorcycle rider and engineer at Kamuge Seed School in Pallisa District, and Kanyago Agali, a female passenger.
According to police, Tumusiime was riding motorcycle registration number UGB 126Z (maroon) from Budaka towards Mbale, carrying Kanyago as a passenger.
The Mercedes Benz (registration number UBE 954L, silver) was travelling in the opposite direction when the driver allegedly attempted a careless overtaking manoeuvre, leading to a head-on collision.
Budaka District Traffic Officer Daniel Chemongesi confirmed the incident, noting that police responded promptly and examined the crash scene.
The bodies were taken to Budaka Health Centre IV mortuary pending post-mortem.
Police have since towed both the car and the motorcycle to Budaka Police Station for inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles.
Bukedi North Regional Police spokesperson Wilfred Kyempasa confirmed that the driver of the Mercedes Benz fled the scene and is currently on the run.
“The driver is still at large, and police have launched a manhunt,” Kyempasa said.
The latest crash adds to growing concerns over road safety along the Mbale–Tirinyi highway, a known accident hotspot.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, road crashes increased from 23,608 cases in 2024 to 24,728 cases in 2025, representing a 4.7% rise.
The same report showed that fatalities also rose, with 4,806 deaths recorded in 2025 compared to 4,179 in 2024, highlighting the growing danger on Uganda’s roads.
Police attribute most crashes to reckless driving, particularly speeding and dangerous overtaking, factors evident in the Friday Budaka incident.
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