By AGGREY BULUBA
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, what seemed like an opportunity to gather free fuel turned into a nightmare in Kigogwa Town, along the Kampala-Bombo Road. On Tuesday, October 22, 2025, a fuel tanker overturned, and in the blink of an eye, the hopes of many who rushed to the scene were engulfed in flames. As the old saying goes, “Curiosity killed the cat,” and here, curiosity and desperation claimed lives.
Eleven souls, including two children, were lost in the fiery explosion, and many more were injured or left scarred by the tragedy. The fuel tanker, traveling from Kampala to Gulu, flipped over and began leaking fuel. In their eagerness to collect what they saw as a blessing, the townspeople rushed with buckets, jerrycans, and containers, hoping to scoop up some free fuel. Little did they know that this act would cost them their lives.
Despite the tanker driver’s desperate pleas to keep away, the crowd pressed forward. Like moths drawn to a flame, they gathered around the tanker, unaware of the lurking danger. Someone even stood filming, capturing what they thought was a moment of fortune, unaware that death was quietly stalking the scene.
“When the fire broke out, it spared no one,” said SSP Patrick Onyango, spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police. “The victims were burned beyond recognition. The identities of many remain unknown.” Among the dead were nine adults and two children, but locals fear the number of lost lives may rise as others succumb to their injuries in nearby clinics.
Four buildings and nine shops, homes to people’s livelihoods, were destroyed in the blaze, leaving behind nothing but ashes. Properties worth millions of shillings went up in smoke, and families now face the painful task of rebuilding their lives from the ruins.
This tragedy brings back memories of past fuel tanker accidents in Uganda, where desperation has often led people into the jaws of death. In 2013, over 20 people lost their lives and many more were left scarred in west uganda, when they gathered to siphon fuel from a leaking tanker, only for it to explode.
As the saying goes, “Fire and water are good servants but bad masters.” Fuel is life-giving when handled with care, but deadly when mishandled. In this case, it became a cruel master, devouring the very people it lured with its promise of free bounty.
The police have once again warned the public to keep far away from such accidents. “We beg you, do not approach fuel tankers. Life is worth more than a few liters of free fuel. When you see danger, run from it. Let trained professionals handle the situation,” SSP Onyango urged.
In moments of desperation, it is easy to forget that “All that glitters is not gold.” What seems like an easy gain can sometimes be a deadly trap. The people of Kigogwa now mourn the loss of loved ones, and we are reminded of the fragility of life.
Let this be a lesson to us all: when faced with danger, step back, for life is the most precious gift we have. Safety must come before everything else, no matter how tempting the moment may seem.
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