A senior police officer was hit and killed by a suspected driver, who is currently on the run.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Obed Wachgiu, Officer-in-Charge of Kiwanga Police Station in Mukono Division and two others were knocked down as the driver overtook another car in Kiwanga Shopping Centre.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said ASP Wachgiu was riding a police motorcycle while two other victims, including the area defense secretary, were on another bike when the accident happened on Saturday at 10 p.m.

“The white colored Subaru Forester motor vehicle registration number UBM 123L, driven by one Robert, a businessman at Kiwanga, was heading from Kiwanga towards Jomayi. The driver left his side while overtaking and knocked down two riders – the rider of the motorcycle with registration number UP 8064 Yamaha and UFW 742F Bajaj Boxer from the opposite direction,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Owoyesigyire said yesterday.

The driver of the Subaru Forester later lost control and hit a utility pole before jumping out of the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

Mr Owoyesigyire said the police officer was rushed to Pearl Clinic in Kiwanga and later to Gwattiro Hospital in Bweyogerere which referred him to Mulago National Referral Hospital.

However, he was first taken to China Friendship Hospital as he was in poor condition, which also referred him to Mulago hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

The other two victims were admitted to different medical facilities with minor injuries.

Mr. Owoyesigyire said the hunt for the suspect accused of reckless driving is ongoing.

“The driver should contact the police as soon as possible before we use all our resources and capabilities to find him,” he said.

One of the residents of Kiwanga described a deceased officer as a friendly and dedicated person who often escorted him from the shopping center to his home late at night.

The death of an officer not only steals around 1,000 people from the police service, but also costs the government. The current police to civilian ratio in Uganda is one officer per 1,000 people. The police spend more than 20 lei to train a graduate police officer. Road accidents have become one of the leading causes of death in Uganda, with over 4,000 people dying annually. Careless overtaking is the second leading cause of accidents after speeding, contributing more than 6,000 cases annually, according to the police’s 2023 traffic report.