TERRIBLE! Merchandise worth billions lost as truck catches fire in Masindi

Masindi: A truck transporting merchandise has caught fire and burned to ashes in Masindi district.

The truck registration number UBF 211F was en route to Paidha in West Nile from Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The incident happened on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at around 10:24 a.m. along Masindi-Biiso Road at Bwinamira village in Budongo Sub County, Bujenje County.

According to information obtained by this publication, the truck driver, identified as Nam Jarius, saw the smoke coming out of the truck, and he had to make a stopover.

Julius Kyahurwa, the LC3 Chairperson for Budongo Sub County, stressed that the truck Isuzu type that was transporting merchandise to West Nile caught fire and burned to ashes.

According to Kyahurwa, some of the items lost in the fire include motorcycles, bicycles, clothes, wheelbarrows, cooking oil, and flour, among others.

‘’Property worth billions has been lost in this fire; some of the property lost includes motorcycles, wheelbarrows, flour, cooking oil, and jerricans, among others.’’

Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police Spokesperson, has confirmed the incident and explained that though no deaths were registered, a number of pedestrians were injured and rushed to different health centers.

‘’We have not registered a death; however, a number of pedestrians have been injured and rushed to different health centers for treatment; we are yet to get the exact number of casualties,’’ Hakiza told this publication.

The regional police mouthpiece also explained that by the time they rushed to the scene, the fire had already razed all items and burned beyond recognition. Hakiza said they have commenced investigations into the incident.

This is the second incident to happen in Masindi this year after the closure of Karuma Bridge. The first incident involved a South Sudan’s Safari Bus registration number 6887AK 05 that caught fire along the Masindi-Kichumbanyobo road en route to Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The incident happened Monday, July 1, 2024, at around 9 a.m. at Murchison Fall National Park’s Kichumbanyobo Gate in Kigarara Village, Buruli Constituency, Masindi district.

On May 6, 2024, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) announced changes in traffic flow at the Karuma Bridge crossing following identified bridge defects that needed urgent intervention.

As a result, lorries, trailers, trucks, and buses from Kampala to Gulu/West Nile were diverted to use Luwero, Kafu, Masindi, and Paraa (Murchison Falls National Park) to connect to Pakwach or Gulu via Olwiyo and vice versa from Gulu/West Nile.

However, following wider stakeholder engagements, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) resolved that owing to the ecologically sensitive environment along the Masindi-Parra route, all drivers of trailers, lorries, and trucks, except buses, were advised, effective Friday, May 24, 2024, to use Kafu-Masindi, branch off on the left to use Hoima-Biiso-Buliisa-Paraa road, to connect to Pakwach or Gulu Via Olwiyo, and vice versa.

‘’This alternative route is fully paved and involves a shorter distance of approximately 20 kilometers of travel through Murchison Falls National Park, significantly reducing the impact on wildlife movement and behavior,’’ the statement read in part.

According to UNRA, it was further intended to protect and conserve Uganda’s rich wildlife heritage.

‘’The Government of Uganda is expediting funding for the construction of a new bridge at Karuma, which will provide a long-term solution to this transportation challenge.’’

The statement further asserted that, in the interim, repairs will be initiated on the bridge to ensure smooth and full restoration of traffic until a permanent solution is in place.

Now, trucks are using the Masindi-Biiso road and connecting to Pakwach via Murchison Falls National Park.

Do you have an advertisement or an article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256394700683.