news 7 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Katakwi DHO Dr Simon Omeke Dies in Soroti-Moroto Highway Accident
Dr Simon Icumar Omeke, the District Health Officer for Katakwi, was killed instantly when the Ministry of Health vehicle he was driving veered off the Soroti-Moroto Highway and overturned near Akaikai Swamp. Two others were seriously injured and hospitalized, as police launch an investigation into the crash. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/katakwi-health-boss-omeke-killed-in-soroti-moroto-highway-crash-5416280
Dr Simon Icumar Omeke, Katakwi District’s Health Officer, lost his life in a road accident on the Soroti-Moroto Highway, roughly 12 kilometers from Soroti City.
The incident happened after 8:00 pm on Tuesday at the Akaikai Swamp section, as he traveled towards Soroti. East Kyoga Regional Police Commander Ibrahim Saiga confirmed the Ministry of Health vehicle, registered UG 6070M and driven by Dr Omeke, veered off the road and flipped over.
Dr Omeke died on the spot. Two unidentified passengers suffered severe injuries and were taken to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.
Police are probing the cause of the crash and the doctor’s death, with investigations ongoing.
Colleagues remembered Dr Omeke as a humble, humorous professional committed to public health. He had prior UN experience and led upgrades of several Health Centre IIs to IIIs in Katakwi.
This marks the second such tragedy for Katakwi’s senior medics; two years prior, Dr Simon Morulem from Usuk died in a crash on the Usuk-Katakwi Road while rushing to a patient. Both hailed from Usuk.
Uganda faces rising road safety woes, with 13-15 daily fatalities reported by authorities.
Source: Daily Monitor