By Robert Segawa
A Tausi Bus traveling from Kampala to western Uganda caught fire this afternoon along the Masaka–Mbarara highway, forcing an emergency stop in Kyazanga town, Lwengo District.
According to eyewitnesses, smoke was first seen billowing from the rear tyres on the driver’s side as the bus approached Kanyogoga, just before the Prisons area. Despite the danger, the driver continued to Kyazanga town, where he safely parked the vehicle by the roadside to investigate the issue.
Greater Masaka Region Police Spokesperson, ASP Twaha Kasirye, confirmed the incident, stating that the fire had already spread by the time the bus was parked. The driver immediately instructed passengers to disembark, which they did safely.
“They attempted to use the fire extinguisher, but the flames had already engulfed the bus,” Kasirye said. “Fortunately, no one was injured. All passengers evacuated in time, although goods stored in the boot were completely destroyed.”
A team of police and traffic officers from Lwengo District and Kyazanga Police Station, led by the division traffic officer, visited and documented the scene. By the time they arrived, the bus was already reduced to ashes.
Traffic along the busy highway was briefly diverted to prevent further incidents, as emergency services worked to secure the scene.
Preliminary investigations point to a possible case of brake jamming as the cause of the fire, although official findings are still pending.
