news 10 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Police Investigate Mysterious Highway Fire After Car Engulfed in Flames in Mabira
Authorities are probing a vehicle fire that completely destroyed a car along the Jinja-Kampala highway near Mabira Forest. The driver reportedly fled the scene after the blaze erupted. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/police-probe-highway-fire-after-car-burnt-in-mabira-5552878
Police in Buikwe District are investigating a dramatic early morning fire that reduced a motor vehicle to ashes on the Jinja-Kampala Highway. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Monday near Lugalambo, just past the Mabira Forest.
The vehicle, a Toyota with registration number UA 131 FD, was traveling from Jinja towards Kampala when its driver reportedly noticed a mechanical issue. According to Sezibwa Regional Police Spokesperson Ms Hellen Butoto, the driver stopped the car, allowing a passenger to exit just moments before flames were seen erupting from the exhaust pipe.
The fire quickly spread, engulfing the entire vehicle. The driver, however, fled the scene before police arrived. By the time officers reached the location, the car was a burnt wreck, and the driver could not be located. Fortunately, the passenger escaped unharmed.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire and the driver’s whereabouts. This incident highlights concerns about vehicle safety on Uganda’s busy highways, where mechanical failures, electrical short circuits, and engine overheating are common causes of vehicle fires, particularly on challenging stretches of road like those near Mabira Forest.
Ms Butoto urged all motorists to prioritize regular vehicle maintenance and safety checks before embarking on any journey to prevent similar occurrences.