Nadi mourns beloved teacher killed in road accident

A Nadi schoolteacher, who was the country’s latest road fatality, is being remembered as a charismatic and fatherly figure.

Manoa Uqeuqe, 58, the assistant head teacher at Namaka Public School, lost his life following a motor vehicle accident last Sunday morning.

Originally from Vatutu, Nadi, Mr Uqeuqe had served as a teacher for 37 years. He attended Nawaka District School, then Queen Victoria School, and later Lautoka Teachers College (now Fiji National University Natabua Campus).

School head teacher and colleague Arvind Kumar said Monday felt different without Mr Uqeuqe’s presence.

“Uqeuqe was a very hardworking person and earned respect from all teachers,” he said.

“He had this fatherly presence at Namaka Public and was known as the voice of Namaka. His sudden demise will be deeply missed by the school and the teaching fraternity in Nadi.”

His son, Eroni Uqeuqe, recalled their final conversation last Saturday about preparing lunch for Sunday.

“That would be our normal chats, but I didn’t realise those would be our final words,” he said.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that Mr Uqeuqe was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a 42-year-old man, which veered off Queens Road near Navo, Nadi.

“The victim died as a result of injuries sustained during the accident,” she said.

“The suspect sustained injuries and remains admitted at Nadi Hospital while investigations continue.”

The late Mr Uqeuqe was an active member of the Fiji Teachers Association (FTA) and held roles with the Nadi Primary School Rugby Association and the Nadi Athletics Association.

He is survived by his two children and six grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be held on Friday, with a church service at 10am at Vatutu Methodist Church.

The national road death toll now stands at 59, compared to 44 for the same period last year.