KAMPALA- Several people are feared dead in a tragic incident that resulted from a fuel tanker accident along the Bombo Road this evening.
The fuel tanker truck which was travelling from Kampala to Luwero lost control and overturned at Kigogwa Trading Center at around 4:00pm before it caught fire.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango, said that several people may have lost lives while others were injured in the explosion
“A multi-agency response team swiftly responded to the scene, including Fire brigade trucks, four 999 patrols , police ambulances, red-cross ambulance and sister security agencies forces rescue efforts are currently underway,” Onyango said.
He added: Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the affected families and communities, updates will be provided as more information is being provided.” Onyango noted.
But Musoke Joseph, a resident kigongwa who was among the first responders told
this reporter that a fuel tanker’s failure to brake led to an overturned vehicle near a boda-boda stage.
He said onlookers and riders surrounded the tank in an attempt to siphon leaking fuel before the explosion.
He says within 10 minutes of people siphoning fuel, the tanker burst into a massive fire, claiming multiple lives,
“Most of the victims were boda-boda-riders who were attempting to siphon fuel, but the tanker busted into fire and killed several people. We don’t know the number, but I can say the explosion was huge here and many people have lost their lives. ” Mukasa said.
A devastating fuel tanker accident on the Kampala-Bombo road today adds to the alarming statistics. In 2022, such incidents accounted for 15% of all fatal road accidents according to the traffic crime report.
