MITYANA– Traffic along the Mityana-Kampala road has resumed after a fuel tanker fire near Kiwawu Tea Estate temporarily blocked the route earlier this Saturday morning.
The Wamala region PRO Rachael Kawala confirmed that the blaze, which erupted in the morning, has been successfully extinguished by the fire brigade, and the road is now fully open to motorists.
The incident caused significant disruption, with one side of the road rendered impassable as emergency teams worked to contain the fire.
Commuters traveling through the area were urged to exercise patience while police secured the scene and directed traffic.
“A fuel tanker today morning on 08/02/2025 caught fire on the Mityana-Kampala road in Mityana District, near Kiwawu Tea Estate. The incident has blocked half of the road and made it impassable,” said ASP Michael Kananura, the spokesperson for Uganda Traffic Police, in an earlier statement.
“Our team is on the scene, securing the area and directing traffic as the fire brigade is also responding to extinguish the fire. In case you are traveling on this route, please exercise patience and follow the instructions of the traffic officers,” he added.
Hours later, authorities confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and normal traffic flow had resumed.
“The fire on the Kampala-Mityana road at Kiwawu, caused by a fuel tanker, has been successfully extinguished by the fire brigade team. The road is now clear, and you’re free to pass through. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time,” Kananura announced.
Troubling Pattern
This incident adds to a growing list of devastating fuel tanker fires in Uganda, raising concerns over road safety and the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials.
Just last year, on 22 October 2024, a similar tragedy unfolded in Kigogwa Town along the Kampala-Bombo road when a fuel tanker overturned and caught fire, claiming 11 lives, including 9 adults and 2 minors.
The victims were burned beyond recognition. The tanker, registered as UAM 292Q, had been traveling from Kampala to Gulu when it crashed, and many of those who rushed to siphon fuel were caught in the ensuing blaze.
Other fuel tanker accidents in Uganda have had equally tragic consequences.
In August 2013, a fuel truck overturned in Namungoona, a Kampala suburb, sparking a massive fire that killed over 30 people who had gathered to collect leaking fuel. The explosion left many others severely burned, some succumbing to their injuries in hospitals.
Another deadly incident occurred in 2016 in Kamdini, Northern Uganda, when a fuel tanker collided with a bus, igniting a fire that led to multiple fatalities.
While today’s incident in Kiwawu did not result in reported casualties, it underscores the persistent danger posed by fuel tanker accidents.
The Uganda Police and transport authorities continue to emphasize the importance of staying away from accident scenes involving hazardous materials, warning that the risk of explosions and fires remains high
