A fuel truck lost control and exploded into flames on Tuesday near Uganda’s capital, Kampala, killing 11 people, including two minors. The tragedy occurred in the town of Kigogwa, approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of the city, yesterday on 22 October 2024 around 3 pm.
According to the Uganda Police Force, the tanker overturned and ignited, causing a massive fire that claimed the lives of individuals who were at the scene. The victims were reportedly burnt beyond recognition. Witnesses revealed that locals had rushed to the scene to collect fuel from the overturned truck before the explosion.
Bukenya Jefferson, a shopkeeper at Kigogwa trading center who witnessed the incident, recounted that fuel began spilling onto the road after the tanker overturned. “People rushed to the truck. Some had begun collecting fuel in cans. Then there was a loud explosion, and smoke started spreading,” he told AFP.
This incident mirrors similar fuel tanker tragedies that have occurred in East Africa, with people often rushing to collect fuel from accidents, unaware of the risks. The explosion comes just days after a deadly fuel tanker blast in northern Nigeria on October 15, which claimed more than 170 lives.
Emergency responders and forensic specialists have cordoned off the area, and investigations are underway. The Ugandan police have urged the public to exercise caution around accident scenes involving hazardous materials like fuel.
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