A shocking police recruitment death in Uganda happened on Tuesday morning in Pallisa District. A 25-year-old woman collapsed during a physical test and died shortly after, raising concerns over the safety of recruitment procedures.
The woman, Margret Kabasa, came from Olok Village, Olok Sub-county. She had joined the Police Probationer Constable (PPC) recruitment exercise. Part of the process involved a timed run from Kalaki Primary School to Pallisa Roundabout and back.
Kabasa reached the roundabout without issue. But on her return leg, she collapsed near the Pallisa–Mbale taxi stage. Officers quickly picked her up and rushed her to Pallisa General Hospital. However, doctors declared her dead on arrival at 10:00 AM.
ASP Wilfred Kyampasa, the regional police spokesperson, confirmed the incident. He said police had opened a death inquiry and were gathering all necessary evidence. The Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) documented the site, and officials took her body to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem.
Officers also collected statements from Kabasa’s relatives and eyewitnesses. Investigators expect the postmortem to clarify what caused her death.
This police recruitment death in Uganda is not an isolated case. In Apac District, Geoffrey Atim, a 30-year-old graduate, collapsed during a UPDF recruitment run. He died the next day after leaving the hospital.
Cases like these have triggered public calls for change. Critics argue that recruitment teams must conduct thorough medical screenings before demanding high physical performance from applicants. Without these measures, more preventable deaths may occur.
Kabasa’s death has left her family and village in mourning. Police say more updates will follow after the postmortem report is complete and the investigation progresses.
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