Fuel Tanker Catches Fire Destroying Roadside Plantations
By Solomon Hamala
BUGWERI
A fuel tank caught fire in an accident which occurred at Butende village in Bugweri district causing panic among residents as well as paralyzing transport along Bugiri-Iganga main high way.
The Police fire brigade and residents battled for almost 3 hours to put out the fire from the fuel tank which was burning and on the ground where fuel was flowing.
This accident which occurred near Emera Water Company on Saturday paralyzed transport along Bugiri-Iganga-Kampala highway for many hours as the burnt truck had obstructed the road.
The fuel tank registration number CGO 3376AE 19 which was coming from Bugiri loaded with fuel was left in flames and locals’ food plantations of maize and rice along the road were burnt down.
Nuuhu Izimba, an eyewitness said the driver of the fuel tank was trying to give way to a FUSO vehicle which was overtaking before its back fell off the road.
The residents in the area asked authorities to put humps in the area because there are several similar accidents which occur and claim lives of people.
Ivan Kakaire, one of the victims of the burnt food plantation asked the authorities to help them be compensated for the loss and blamed police for the delayed response.
The East Busoga Regional Police Commander, Diana Nandaula said that there was no victim in the accident because the driver managed to jump off from the truck.
She however cautioned residents from quickly accessing the scene of such fuel accidents to avoid getting burnt.
It should be remembered that in the year 2000, a similar accident occurred in the same area and over 70 people were burnt to death and they were buried in a single grave.
