14 people have been reported to have died, several others critically injured, and worthy properties were destroyed in Kigogwa town along Bombo Road after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded.
Preliminary reports indicate that as of Wednesday morning, October 23, 2024, the death toll had risen to 14 people in the fuel tanker fire that occurred in Kigogwa town, Kasangati, in Wakiso district along Bombo Road, after three died at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital this morning.
However, in a statement released on October 22, 2023, Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, said that the victims included nine adults and two minors who were burned beyond recognition.
According to Onyango, the fuel tanker, with registration number UAM 292Q, was traveling from Kampala to Gulu when the accident occurred.
“Unfortunately, people who rushed to siphon fuel from the tanker were the most affected. Four buildings housing nine shops were destroyed in the blaze, and properties worth millions of shillings were lost,” Onyango said.
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He added that the injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment while police are conducting a fact-finding mission to confirm the number of injured persons from the health facilities.
Onyango further said that the identities of those affected have not yet been established.
Nevertheless, Ethel Naluyima, the Wakiso District Woman Representative (DWR), said during the plenary sitting on October 23, 2024, that the death toll from the fire incident has risen to 35, although the last update from Uganda Police on October 22, 2024, indicated 11 people to have died.
In the related development, on August 21, 2024, a fuel tanker busted into flame, killing one and injuring two at Rukungiri; on December 13, 2022, one person died in Tororo; in January 2021 on the Northern Bypass, at least 33 people died; on February 12, 2021, four died in Bunyangabu; and on August 12, 2019 in Rubirizi, 20 people died. Such incidences point to the need to sensitize locals on public safety during such incidences.
