Kampala football fans survive bus fire

By Ismael Kasooha in Kibaale

75 football fans from Kampala had a narrow escape when the bus registration number UAU 954Q.
they were travelling in mysteriously caught fire as they were heading back to Kampala. 

The Isuzu bus carrying the fans was engulfed in flames on Easter Sunday at Kasalaba Mataale in Kibaale district. 

The District Police Commander, John Ojokuna Elatu, said that the accident occurred at 8:00pm. 

“We are still investigating the cause of the fire but we suspect it could have been a short circuit,” said Ojokuna. 

Ojokuna said that the bus driver whose particulars could not be established vanished immediately after the incident occurred. 

One of the football fans told the Police that they saw flames spreading through the bus and they scampered out for dear life. 

“We left all the bags in the bus and struggled to get out before the bus was all up in flames,” said Geoffrey Mubiru.

The 75 passengers on board all escaped without any injury. They included players and fans who had travelled all the way from Busabala in Kampala to play a friendly match with Kahunde FC a football club in Kibaale which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Ojokuna said that although the police rushed to the scene in time they could not help the situation because they had no firefighting equipment. 

He said that they tried to put out the fire using sand and soil but to no avail. 

The fans remained stranded at Hakasalaba trading centre in Matale Sub County overnight before they found their way back to Kampala on Monday morning.