A fuel tanker exploded on the Kabale-Katuna border road on Saturday morning, paralyzing traffic. The incident occurred at around 6:00 AM at Nyakasharara village in Kicumbi parish, Kamuganguzi sub county, Kabale district.
Witnesses say that the tanker was heading to Kigali-Rwanda from Mombasa-Kenya at a high speed. The driver, who is yet to be identified, failed to negotiate a sharp corner and the vehicle rolled, bursting into flames.
The driver and turn boy managed to escape unhurt.
Police fire brigade attached to Kabale central police station were at the scene putting off the fire. Police had not yet released a statement at the time of publication.
This is the third fuel tanker accident to occur on the Kabale-Katuna border road in the past year. In August 2023, a trailer carrying World Food Programme maize flour caught fire and burned to ashes. In April 2022, a fuel tanker rolled down Kabaraga hills and burst into flames, injuring two people.
In December 2012, a fuel tanker exploded in the same area, killing the driver.
Authorities are urged to investigate the cause of these frequent accidents and take measures to prevent them from happening again.
Source: URN