Kenyan fuel tanker explodes at Goli customs border

NEBBI – Businesses were last Friday paralyzed at Goli custom border when a Kenyan fuel tanker registration number KCN-019Q/ZF7830 that was transporting fuel to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via Goli customs exploded in a huge flame of fire.

The accident happened in the morning hours around 4:00am and fortunately, didn’t claim any lives but destroyed a lot of properties.

Residents of Mboma East village, Jupangira sub-county in Nebbi district, where the accident happened were stranded without food and shelter after the incident. The affected families had to take refuge with relatives and good Samaritans.

According to Moses Kyeyamwa, the Operations Commander (OC) at Goli border post, the incident forced some of the affected families to take refuge with nearby communities. Residents described the incident as similar to an explosive bomb going off with a blaze which could have been sparked by friction of the tyres due to the distance covered by the trailer.

He adds that, the diesel fuel tanker carrying an estimated 25,000 liters of diesel heading to DRC arrived at Goli border post from Kampala and caught fire shortly after parking by the roadside.

Unfortunately, the fire extended to another stationed petrol fuel tanker registration number 0887AA07/0888A07 which later burnt a parked coaster 200 meters from the first incident due to the spreading flames.

“Police had running battles with local residents who had gone to collect the spilt fuel from the flamed fuel tanker to avoid loss of lives. Since the heat couldn’t be controlled, police cut National Water Sewerage Corporation water pipes to quell the spreading flames,” Kyeyamwa said.

He says businesses which used to boom at Goli border were paralyzed for the whole day as police officers and fire brigades were draining fuel from the burnt trailer for easy access of the road to avoid another risky accident.

One of the eye witnesses John Okurboth, who arrived at the scene in time says, the few people who reported at the scene started mobilizing for sand and water before firefighters arrived at the scene but still, they were overpowered by the thick and toxic flames coming from the burning fuel tankers.

“I thought it was a rebel attack when I heard explosive sounds going endlessly from my room, since Zombo was attacked by unknown rebel groups from DRC a month ago; so, we also imagined the same situation was repeating itself at Goli border,” Ukorboth said.

Ukorboth adds that some drivers and turn-men who parked their lorries by the roadsides made loud alarms to other drivers to cross the border to avoid another incidence of getting burnt from the spreading fire.

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The LC I of Mboma East village Phillip Abok said, the Friday fuel tanker explosion has left a number of families homeless and their properties destroyed by the fire from the explosion and looters pretending to be rescuers.

He says since people are facing partial lockdown, the government should provide food and temporary shelters to the affected families since the vulnerable, elderly mothers and children are spending sleepless nights in the cold and are hungry.

“Mothers and young children were rescued with the help of community members who made alarms to wake up those who were in their deep sleep to avoid loss of lives but still their properties were destroyed in the process of getting rescued,” Abok narrated.

One of the victims Ms. Consulate Madhawun who was staying 3 meters from the explosion says, her family members survived because the wind was blowing towards the western direction, but her properties all got burnt and others were looted by the rescuers who had come to save their lives.

“I thank God for saving my life and that of my family since the distance from my house to the road was so near. If it was not because of God, we would have all died,” Madhawun said.

Scovia Gamba, a mother of two who used to run a local hotel at the border says, she lost her properties worth more than Shs 5 million to the explosive fire since the incident happened early morning which made it difficult to rescue her properties.

She adds that the incident happened when she had just borrowed a loan of Shs 2m to boost her food vending business at Goli border. Her business was also affected by the 42 days’ lockdown which prohibited the inter district mobility of public and private transport to curb the spread of Covid19.

Scovia who started her local hotel business at the border narrated that, she started her business in the year 2018 with a capital of Shs 500,000 and she was able to take care of her elderly parents to survive but, it’s going to be hard to regain her business because she will be hard hit by limited capital to stabilize her business again.

However, the district Chairperson Emmanuel Urombi says, the district is conducting assessments to ensure the affected families are helped.

“The district has no capacity to provide any relief items to the affected families but, the tragedy has been reported to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for further management,” Urombi said.

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Masindi SACCO leaders Disagree over Emyooga Savings Requirements

MASINDI – SACCO leaders in Masindi have disagreed over the 30% savings requirement to access loans from Emyooga SACCOs.

On Wednesday, Joab Businge, the Masindi municipality member of parliament held a consultative meeting with leaders of Emyooga SACCOs in Masindi municipality to ascertain how the program is progressing.

The members of parliament had been directed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Anita Among to undertake a fact-finding mission to assess the progress of the Emyooga program.

On the whole, Masindi district received Shs 1.6 billion; of which, Masindi municipality got Shs 559 million as seed capital.

According to the report presented by Robinah Nyangoma, the Masindi Municipality Commercial Officer, 18 SACCOs were formed from 453 associations in the entire municipality, adding that so far Shs 257 million has been saved by different SACCOs and Shs 719 million has been disbursed to beneficiaries. She further added that Shs 57 million has been recovered from different SACCOs.

Notably, in the meeting that was held at Masindi municipality gardens; members had divergent perspectives on the issue of the 30% savings requirement for accessing loans from the Emyooga SACCOs.

According to the policy, a member must have saved 30% of the money applied for before their loan application is approved.

Many members argued that this requirement was too much; persons with disabilities complained that the percentage is too much for them to afford, noting that it should be reduced to at least 10%. Others suggested that the requirement be reduced to 20%.

“A lot of money is stuck on our accounts because of this requirement,” a member stated.

Jim Agaba from the Masindi Municipality Constituency Saloon SACCO complained that they had no money to raise the percentage required and urged the authorities to reduce the savings requirements to enable people like her to access the money.

However, some members supported the savings requirement of 30% noting that it’s compelling the members to improve on their saving culture.

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“The people who are complaining that the percentage is too much are the people who don’t want to save. This percentage is helping us grow our SACCOs. It should be maintained for the betterment of our SACCOs. This also acts as security for the members who want to default,” said Isingoma Cleophas, the Chairperson, Masindi Municipality Tailors SACCO.

The disagreement on the percentage has been brought about by different politicians and some program officers who tell beneficiaries uncoordinated information.

Businge, the area member of parliament blamed the leaders and program officers for giving people uncoordinated information, saying that this will lead to the collapse of the program.

“As leaders, we should all speak one language if the program is to yield fruits. As leaders, stop misleading people. Proper information must be given to the people because what we need are positive results. People should stop politicizing this program,” said Businge.

Other challenges

Members also complained that some SACCOs have very many associations explaining that the Shs 30 million given to such SACCOs is of no help.

Fatuma Nyangoma, the Treasurer, Masindi Municipality Constituency Producers’ SACCO said they are comprised of more than 200 associations explaining that Shs 30 million was like a drop of milk in the ocean.

“We gave out money and it got over. The associations need money but there’s nothing and they’re active and saving. Rotating around all these SACCOs with only Shs 30 million is not realistic. We pray that the government reconsiders SACCOs with many associations,” said Nyangoma.

The members also complained that the lockdown and the prolonged dry spell also constrained their recoveries.

Simon Kyomuhendo also a beneficiary blamed the government for bringing the money at the wrong time saying that the money was brought to them during campaign time.

“Many people treated this money as a thank you. We would receive different politicians mobilizing people to form SACCOs to benefit. Some of them were telling people that the money was free. The propaganda in this program by politicians was too much,” said Kyomuhendo.

In his response, Businge promised to report everything as it was put by the members.

“I am going to make a comprehensive report which will be presented to parliament,” said Businge.

The MP promised to meet the veterans, youth, persons with disabilities, and the women separately in the course of this week.

Masindi district as a whole got Shs 1.6 billion which was disbursed to 54 SACCOs across the district and the municipality.

Emyooga is a Presidential Cluster Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation which was introduced in 2019.

The 19 clusters selected to benefit from the program include Boda-boda riders, salon owners, carpenters, and taxi operators, welders, market vendors, journalists, performing artists, mechanics among others.

Under the project, each SACCO is supposed to receive up to Shs 30m to be accessed as a revolving fund by members to boost their respective income-generating ventures, at an interest rate as low as 5% annually.

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