Kigoogwa, Uganda | The recent fuel tanker fire in Kigoogwa has tragically underscored significant deficiencies in local health and emergency response services. The accident, involving a tanker registered as UAM 292Q, occurred when it overturned and caught fire, leading to a devastating explosion. Initially, 11 people lost their lives, with the death toll now reaching 24 as victims succumbed to their injuries.
Residents of Kigoogwa, located just 22 kilometers from Kampala, reported severe inadequacies in the health and evacuation services that impeded timely response efforts. The initial evacuation saw injured individuals transported to nearby health facilities, including Buwambo Health Center IV, but these centers quickly became overwhelmed.
Dr. Bruno Sserunkuma from Buwambo Health Center IV described the challenges faced by his team. “We provided immediate care, including resuscitation and stabilization, but we lacked the capacity for comprehensive treatment,” he said, noting the need to refer patients for further management. Tragically, one of the severely injured, Hassan Katamba, died after being transferred back to the scene due to a lack of ambulances.
Mark Kizito, a local resident, highlighted the dire transportation issues, sharing that some patients had to resort to motorcycles to reach Bombo Military Hospital after local centers refused to treat them due to shortages. Joseph Musoke, Chairperson of Buwambo Health Center, called for government intervention to equip the facility better for future emergencies.
The delays in medical treatment were exacerbated by heavy traffic, with long transport times to hospitals like Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, which admitted 26 fire victims. This situation has placed a financial burden on the families, as they are required to purchase essential medications from private pharmacies, costing approximately 300,000 Ugandan shillings per day.
Boda boda riders in Kigoogwa have begun fundraising efforts to support their colleagues receiving treatment, expressing their desperation over the costs involved. “We need to help our friends by raising money because each day a patient has to buy drugs outside the facility,” said Ivan Kintu, a rider involved in the campaign.
The government has pledged a modest one million shillings to assist the injured, but families argue this amount is insufficient for ongoing medical needs.
As the community mourns and begins to recover, there are renewed calls for significant improvements in emergency preparedness and healthcare infrastructure to ensure more effective responses to similar incidents in the future.
