Colleague recounts last day alive of veteran West Nile journalist Bileni

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The media fraternity in Uganda's West Nile sub-region is mourning the death of a long-serving journalist, only two days after the passing on of another.

Martin Bileni, who started his journalism career with Voice of Life, died in a road collision with another motorcycle rider on Friday (August 15).

He worked as an intern at Vision Group's Arua One FM in 2024, before joining Madi Okollo-based Voice of Madi FM. 

Final day alive

Until his death, Bileni had been the Chief News Editor and the Acting Station Manager of Voice of Madi FM, a radio station owned by Madi Okollo district Woman Member of Parliament, Joan Okia.

His colleague, Francis Cadri, commonly known as Baby Francis, told Arua One FM that he had been set to travel to Arua with Bileni on the fateful day on what had been an ordinary Friday for staff at this office — until the devastating news reached them.

“We always have Friday staff meetings at the station, and Martin chaired it as usual. Thereafter, we discussed plans to travel to Arua city, but he said he would travel in the evening," said Cadri.

"When I told him about my journey in the afternoon, he suddenly changed his plan, saying we would travel together."

According to Cadri, Bileni joined them for lunch at Degia Trading Centre. Halfway through the meal, he reportedly asked for the motorcycle to go back to change his clothes.

On his way back to join his colleagues at the trading centre, tragedy struck: Bileni collided with another motorcyclist, who was carrying a passenger.

The journalist was pronounced dead on arrival at Rhino Camp Health Centre IV, while the other crash victims were alive but in critical condition.

Bileni recently graduated with a First Class Bachelor degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Africa Renewal Christian University, Buloba, after more than 15 years of experience in journalism work.

He served in various managerial capacities at the Anglican-based Voice of Life Radio in Arua city, including as head of news. He had a brief stint as acting station manager at the station before going for further studies.

Bileni’s death came barely two days after another veteran journalist, Emmanuel Mawa, collapsed and died at his home in Ajono parish, Vurra sub-county.

Mawa, a former communications secretary (correspondent) at Catholic-based Radio Pacis in Arua city with more than 15 years’ experience in reporting, was recently a correspondent for Arua city-based Access FM.

He reportedly collapsed and died while heading to the latrine at his home.