Yesterday, authorities retrieved the bodies of victims from a fuel truck explosion near Uganda’s capital, Kampala, while investigators gathered evidence at the scene in Kigogwa Town.
The explosion occurred after the fuel tanker overturned following an accident, killing at least 11 people, including two children.
Moses Nanoka, the District Police Commander of Kampala Metropolitan North, provided further details.
“It was a single accident involving a fuel tanker on Bombo Road. We haven’t yet determined whether the issue was with the vehicle or the driver,” Nanoka explained. “After the accident, fuel began leaking from the tanker, and unfortunately, people started collecting it. Given the highly flammable nature of fuel, it caught fire, likely due to a woman roasting maize nearby. There are homesteads and shops around the area, and with the amount of fuel spilling, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire.”
The police confirmed that four buildings, housing nine shops, were destroyed in the blaze.
The fuel tanker had been traveling from Kampala to Gulu, a northern city about 400 kilometers away, when the accident happened. The injured were transported to nearby health centers for treatment, though the identities of the victims remain unknown.
A video shared online appeared to show people scooping up fuel from the tanker before the explosion occurred.
The Uganda Police Force has since urged the public to exercise caution when handling hazardous materials.
