The Kigogwa Inferno: A survivor’s tale, Trauma and Quest for Justice.

Mama Juma’s eyes welled up with tears as she recounted the fateful day that changed her life forever. The Kigogwa fuel tanker explosion, a disaster that claimed countless lives, left her with scars that may never heal. On that ill-fated day, Margret and her friend Nuuru were nearby when the fuel tanker overturned. Curiosity drew them to the scene, where they found Amanda, the fuel handler, collecting payments from eager residents. The price: 2000 Ugandan shillings for a precious liter of fuel. Margret, unable to afford the fuel, decided to leave. But Nuuru, determined to collect some for her family, returned to the scene. The last words Margret heard from her friend still haunt her: ”Take my baby away she’s in the house.” As Nuuru joined the throngs of people gathered in the corridor, jerrycans in hand, disaster struck. Flames engulfed the area, trapping Nuuru and countless others. Margret watched in horror as her friend struggled to escape, her cries echoing through the chaos: ”Take my baby away!” The corridor, once filled with hope and resilience, became a corridor of terror. The screams, the flames, the desperation . Margret’s memories are forever etched with the anguish of that day. The inferno ravaged commercial and residential houses, leaving nothing but ashes and despair. The once-thriving community was reduced to rubble. A nearby play station, a hub of joy and entertainment, was silenced forever. Margret’s voice cracks as she recalls the aftermath. ”I saw my friends burning, dying… but I couldn’t help. I was powerless.” Her friend Nuuru left behind a 4-month-old baby, a constant reminder of the tragedy. As FHU, we stand with Margret, Nuuru’s family, and the people of Kigogwa in their grief. We demand accountability and justice for the lives lost, properties destroyed, and businesses shattered. Where is the government? Who will compensate the affected families? The Kigogwa incident is more than a tragedy, it’s a wake-up call. A call to action, to demand better from those in power. As we mourn with the affected communities, we vow to amplify their voices, seek answers, and fight for justice. Rest in Peace, Nuuru, and all those who lost their lives in the Kigogwa inferno. Your memory will not be forgotten.