A tragic accident occurred at Bagahwe trading centre in Rukungiri district on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, when a fuel tank lost control, fell into a ditch, and caught fire.

The incident resulted in the death of a fuel station manager and left two others with serious injuries. The manager, identified as 32 year-old Abdullah Harman, a Somali national, was burnt beyond recognition. Harman was the manager of the Stabex Fuel Station located in Kihihi.

The accident took place in Bugangari sub-county along the Rukungiri-Kihihi road. The fuel tank, a Mitsubishi Fuso with the registration number UAT 055G, was transporting fuel from Mbarara city to the Stabex branch in Kihihi.

The driver, Qurash Mayengo, 35, a resident of Mbarara city, lost control of the vehicle while descending a steep slope near a roundabout at Bagahwe. The vehicle was traveling at a high speed when it struck a signpost and ultimately fell into a ditch, where it ignited.

In addition to the fatality, the accident left the driver, Mayengo, and the turn man, 27-year-old Brian Kiprimo, a Kenyan national, with severe burns. Both men were initially taken to Nyakibale Hospital before being referred to Mulago Hospital for further medical treatment.

The incident caused significant disruption to traffic along the Rukungiri-Kihihi road, as emergency services worked to control the fire and clear the wreckage. The police were promptly notified and arrived at the scene to extinguish the flames. The Kigezi Police region spokesperson, Elly Maate, described the event as a “single fatal accident” and attributed the cause to reckless driving.

Harman’s remains were taken to Rwakabengo Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination. The police statement highlighted the importance of road safety, particularly the dangers of speeding on steep slopes, and urged drivers to exercise caution to prevent such tragic accidents in the future.