In 10 tragic minutes, 24 lives gone: Here’s what Kigoogwa remembers

On October 22, an ordinary day turned tragic at Kigoogwa trading centre along the Kampala-Gulu highway when a fuel tanker, registration number UAM 292Q, loaded with petrol, suddenly swerved, lost control, and later on erupted into flames beside the road.

The accident claimed at least 11 lives on the spot. By Sunday afternoon, October 27, Dr Moses Byaruhanga, director of Police Health Services and lead pathologist, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 24. Of those deceased, 18 were male and six were female, with three young children among the victims. Remains of young children, including three feet, remain at the Mulago hospital mortuary.

“At the scene, the first 11 bodies were burnt beyond physical identification, and we used DNA analysis to match them with relatives. All of these bodies have since been handed over to the families,” Dr Byaruhanga stated.

While several survivors narrowly escaped the deadly inferno, they are left with lasting scars and trauma from an incident that has plunged Kigoogwa trading centre into deep mourning.

SOMBER MOOD IN KIGOOGWA AFTER DEVASTATING TANKER EXPLOSION

A day after the October 22, 2024 fuel tanker explosion that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction, The Observer visited the scene in Kigoogwa trading centre, where groups of people gathered, watching videos online in hopes of identifying the deceased and missing.

The atmosphere was tense, as the residents grappled with the scale of the tragedy that had swept through their community. Mathias Musaazi, a land broker and resident, witnessed the explosion unfold within minutes. At around 2:50 pm, he was crossing the highway when he noticed a fuel tanker hooting persistently.

The tanker, laden with petrol, had lost control near a branch road leading to Migadde, close to a government-installed CCTV camera—incidentally, the same location where former NRM national treasurer Rose Namayanja had a collision in October 2015.

“I saw the vehicle veer off the road and overturn, causing a loud bang that ruptured one of its four fuel compartments,” Musaazi recalled.

The tanker driver, described as an older man in a red shirt, leapt from the vehicle with another man he referred to as “his boss.” The two pleaded with bystanders to clear the area as fuel began leaking, yet the sight of the fuel attracted a large crowd instead. Musaazi watched from a close range before retreating to safety.

According to Musaazi, the combination of a sloping road and lack of speed bumps made it challenging for the driver to control the tanker in the busy trading centre. He emphasized that a taxi driver, whom some have blamed for the accident, had already parked to let passengers disembark before the truck approached, and the narrow road left him limited options for parking safely.

As the fuel continued to leak, people rushed to collect it. A boda boda rider named Kayima was the first to use a jerrycan, sparking a wave of excitement as others joined in. Among them was a retired UPDF officer, known locally as Afande Mulema, who lost his life in the flames.

Another casualty, builder Morgan Samuel Matutu, was seen on a viral video atop the truck attempting to siphon fuel. According to his widow, Florence Nampijja, Matutu initially collected a basin of fuel but went back for more. Tragically, it was during this second attempt that the tanker exploded. Nampijja learned of her husband’s death from a neighbour.

Musaazi also recounted an interaction with the driver shortly before the explosion. Standing at a safe distance, he asked the driver about the cause of the crash. The driver reportedly explained that the truck’s brakes had failed.

“I have left my smartphone inside but can’t go back for it because I know the truck will burst into flames any moment,” the driver allegedly said, adding that he had intended to steer the vehicle into a nearby valley at Ntove but was unable to due to the brake failure.

As the truck ignited, Musaazi noted the driver’s regret over losing control in such a densely populated area and the crowd’s failure to heed his repeated warnings. The flames quickly spread, severely damaging nine shops, including businesses dealing in plastics, plumbing supplies, clothing, hardware and phone accessories.

The fire extended approximately 200 metres, following trails of spilled fuel and engulfing people living in rental units behind the shops. Many attempted to escape through a narrow corridor with a trench, resulting in injuries as they scrambled to flee.

Claire Mutiibwa, manager at Safe Zone General Hardware, said her business suffered immense losses, and her worker, Patrick Okello, remains hospitalised at Kiruddu hospital after being trapped by the fire while closing the hardware store.

“We had just restocked about 200 pieces of iron bars, plastic drums, water pipes [more than 40], tarpaulins, and other items—everything was lost in the fire,” Mutiibwa stated.

SELFLESS JOSEPH

For boda boda riders at Kigoogwa, the chance to collect spilled fuel from the overturned tanker seemed like a rare opportunity. But as they surrounded the truck, 24-year-old Joseph Muwonge, an employee at a local video library, was focused on a different task: rescuing children trapped inside the shop. Before he could complete his mission, flames engulfed the area, trapping him.

The following morning, Muwonge’s body was discovered, still seated in a corner, a final testament to his last selfless act.

“Initially, we thought he had escaped the fire, but he is no more,” shared Jazirah Nampijja, 21, who staggered along the main road in disbelief after learning the DNA results had confirmed her worst fears—that her partner was among those killed on the spot. Fighting back tears, Nampijja described Muwonge as a calm and compassionate man who lost his life saving young children. She had been nearby, visiting a friend, when the explosion occurred. “If it was God’s plan to stay alone, I have nothing to change,” she said, clutching her two young children.

Another family shared the heartbreaking story of 20-year-old Brian Serwadda, who perished in the blast. His brother, Ivan Jjuuko, recounted their last moments.

“I left Brian at home that morning, but later I received calls saying the village was on fire. My brother was last seen in a viral video,  wearing a white shirt and black shorts, walking near the truck with his hands in his pockets seconds before it exploded,” Jjuuko said.

Five days after the tragedy, his family collected Serwadda’s remains, identified through DNA testing, and laid him to rest in Nkokonjeru, Buikwe district.

BODA BODA RIDER’S NARROW ESCAPE

Abdul Ssebwana, a 26-year-old boda boda rider, narrowly escaped death in the October 22 fuel tanker explosion at Kigoogwa. In a viral video, Ssebwana can be seen in a black jacket, carrying a white jerrycan of petrol just moments after the explosion. Though his jacket briefly caught fire, fellow riders quickly extinguished the flames, leaving him with only minor injuries.

At the time of the incident, Ssebwana was having lunch at a roadside eatery, watching as others rushed to collect spilled fuel.

“I first watched with my food in hand as boda boda riders filled up jerrycans. The truck driver was shouting at people to leave, but no one listened,” Ssebwana told The Observer. “After a few minutes, I grabbed a five-litre jerrycan and collected some fuel to pour into my motorcycle after the blast.”

This wasn’t Ssebwana’s first close encounter with a fuel tanker tragedy. In 2013, he was at the scene of the deadly Namungoona explosion but refrained from collecting fuel that day.

“I survived Namungoona because the fuel truck exploded ahead of us. I saw people fighting for their lives, but it didn’t stop me from collecting fuel at Kigoogwa. People who collected fuel were desperate to earn a living, though we all knew petrol is dangerous,” he reflected.

Ssebwana’s family believed he had perished in the Kigoogwa explosion. He arrived home around 9pm to find his wife and children in tears, having been told by neighbours that he hadn’t survived.

“My wife was convinced I wouldn’t pass up free fuel; so, she thought I must have been caught in the blast,” he said.

When asked if he would risk collecting fuel again, Ssebwana explained the economic pressures that drive such choices.

“Life is hard, and customers aren’t paying enough. I spend about Shs 10,000 on fuel each day, from morning to night, but this free fuel lasted me three days. If God decides to take me in another incident, then that’s His plan,” he remarked, pointing to the harsh realities many face in Uganda’s high-cost economy.

SAFETY AND BURNS EXPERTS WEIGH IN

Following the tragic fuel tanker explosion in Kigoogwa, most victims were initially rushed to hospitals in Bombo and Matugga before being referred to Kiruddu national referral hospital, Uganda’s only specialized burns centre. The severity of the injuries required advanced care, and despite medical efforts, some patients succumbed to their injuries due to extensive burns.

Dr Rose Alenyo, a burns and plastic surgeon at Kiruddu, described the patients’ condition as critical. She emphasized the importance of immediate first aid in burn injuries, noting that “the less the depth [of the burns], the higher the chances of recovery.”

Alenyo outlined that after any burn injury, it is essential to quickly remove the victim from the heat source, then rinse the affected area with clean, room-temperature water for at least 30 minutes. This practice, she explained, reduces pain and limits further tissue damage, whereas using cold water can lead to frost burns on the injured skin.

In the Kigoogwa incident, Alenyo recommended that after water therapy, victims should have been covered with a clean cloth to prevent infections and manage shock. She cautioned against using alternative remedies such as cooking oil, which can block skin pores, or sugar, which can dangerously dehydrate the body.

“I have also heard about people applying women’s vaginal fluids on burns, but this is extremely harmful,” Alenyo added, stressing that such practices can introduce infections resistant to treatment.

Alenyo also offered guidance on identifying burn severity.

“Deep burns often turn the skin white or pink, while black or greyish skin may indicate lack of blood supply and signs of tissue death,” she said.

From a safety perspective, Daniel Mushabe, general manager of Mount Meru Petroleum (U) Ltd, highlighted the extreme flammability of petrol and the hazards associated with fuel spills.

“According to the viral video, this accident was bound to happen. A single spark, even from a phone call, could ignite spilled fuel. That’s why we insist on switching off phones at fuel stations, though many people disregard this,” he explained.

Mushabe advised bystanders to distance themselves as much as possible from fuel spills and recommended that drivers maintain a safe distance from accident sites involving fuel trucks.

“When a fuel truck overturns, there is a 90 per cent chance it will explode if there’s even a small leak,” he warned.

Mushabe called for fuel truck drivers to rest adequately on long routes and ensure their vehicles are well-maintained, noting that the Kigoogwa incident could have been even more catastrophic had it involved a larger tanker carrying over 40,000 litres of fuel.