Traffic along the busy Mityana–Mubende Road was temporarily disrupted after a passenger bus belonging to Link Bus caught fire at Kikonge, sparking panic among travelers and nearby residents.
The bus, registration number UBF 966K, was reportedly traveling from Kampala to Mubende District when the incident occurred.
According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle first developed a mechanical problem involving one of its tyres before flames quickly spread across the bus.
Residents said smoke was initially seen coming from the wheel area moments before the fire intensified.
“We noticed smoke coming from one of the tyres as the bus moved at high speed. Shortly after, flames began spreading and people started shouting for passengers to get out,” eyewitness Peter Bogere recounted.
The incident caused fear among passengers and other motorists, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene to help evacuate passengers and salvage some luggage from the burning vehicle.
“Community members responded quickly to assist passengers escape and save some of their belongings before the fire became uncontrollable,” another resident said.
Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported, as all passengers managed to evacuate in time.
Fire brigade officers later arrived at the scene and successfully contained the blaze, although the bus was extensively damaged.
The incident led to a temporary traffic jam along the highway as motorists slowed down and security officers worked to restore normal traffic flow.
By press time, police had not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage.
Investigations are underway to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
