Merchandise worth millions lost as truck catches fire

Police in Masindi have started investigating circumstances under which  a truck carrying merchandise from Kampala  to Paidha caught fire in Masindi

The Tuesday morning incident saw a Isuzu vehicle registration  number UBF 211F  catch fire in Budongo forest on the Masindi Buliisa road and all merchandise got burnt .

According to police, the truck was along Biiso road at  Bwinamira village Budongo Sub County Masindi district  when the incident happened.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says, the driver,  Asuman Namujege reported that he  saw smoke coming from behind and immediately stopped only to find the car already burning.

“Police were notified but by the time our fire department arrived, the fire department from Kinyara sugar had responded with help of community, but unfortunately they could not save anything due to the magnitude of the fire,” Hakiza said

He said investigations will help police get the cause of the fire.

“Normally we find hard time to establish the cause when the driver runs away or dies but in this incident the driver is alive and from him we will be able to get information on what exactly happened,” Hakiza said

Police have, however, cautioned the drivers to always check their vehicles before starting their journeys.

“This we have said and will continue telling drivers that before you set off ,especially those driving long distances check your mileage, oil and the mechanical condition of your vehicles. Most of these if detected early they can be dealt with by the mechanics so that you move steadily," Hakiza said.