Kiga Landing Site, Buyanja ‘A’ Village, Buyanja Sub-County, Buyende District, Uganda – A devastating fuel explosion has left a family shattered and a community in mourning after claiming the lives of a man, his wife, and their two grandchildren on Friday evening.

The victims have been identified as Patrick Sendi, 67, Jessica Mukyala, 64, Peter Senguko, 3, and Shalom Namu, 1, tragically lost their lives in the blaze that engulfed their home at Kiga Landing Site.

According to Busoga North Police Spokesperson, Michael Kasadha, the incident occurred around 7:30 pm when a customer attempted to buy petrol for a boat engine. In the process of filling the container, some fuel spilled near the doorway, where a charcoal stove was placed with a kettle on it.

“Initial efforts by Sendi’s wife to put out the fire failed, forcing her to throw down the charcoal stove which ignited the fuel jerry cans, resulting in a fatal explosion,” Kasadha stated.

The tragedy has left behind survivors, including the couple’s daughter Damalie Nantongo, 20, granddaughter Bridget Namyalo, 9, and William Sendi, who sustained injuries while escaping.

“Our team of detectives from Buyende Central Police Station visited the scene, examined the bodies, and handed them over for burial pending further investigations,” Kasadha added.

Buyende District Youth Council chairperson, Hillary Kalyango, expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “time bomb in the quest for easy money and business.” He emphasized the risks associated with buying fuel from roadside and home vendors, urging for safer practices to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The local community mourns the loss of four lives and the destruction caused by the devastating fire, which fortunately did not spread to neighboring grass-thatched huts.