Video report on NTV from Peter Kaujju, the Kampala Capital City Authority spokesperson
Millions of people living and working in Kampala could be living in danger without knowing it due to the large number of fuel stations constructed in the middle of residential areas and busy shopping centres.
On Tuesday, the potential dangers of having many fuel stations in residential and other busy areas where made obvious when a fire broke out in the Kampala surburb of Kanyanya following a petrol spill from the Gaz fuel depot in the area. The police fire and rescue team acted fast and contained the fire before it could spread to the depot less than 20 metres away but not before some property was destroyed and 10 people were injured.
According to the management of Gaz fuel stations, the depot constructed in 2004, has over 250,000 litres of highly flammable fuel. Such an large amount of fuel could easily wipe out an entire neighbourhood if it ever caught fire.
A quick tour around Kampala reveals that a number of fuel stations are situated within, or very close to, residential areas thereby posing a risk to the the residents in these communities.
In Bugolobi, the Gaz fuel station is next to residential flats constructed less than three years ago. Shell Capital on Kampala Road is next to Mabirizi complex that has hundreds of shops. Opposite the filling station are a number of other shopping arcades. The Total fuel station next to Kikuubo and Owino markets is in the middle of a very busy part of downtown Kampala that is always bustling with activity.
According to KCCA, fuel stations are supposed to be set up 100 metres from residential or public buildings and many of those stations that are close to residential or public buildings pre-date the buildings around them or they were constructed in contravention of city planning regulations.
Peter Kaujju, the Kampala Capital City Authority spokesperson told NTV that the authority recognises the danger posed by these fuel stations and it has stopped issuing fuel station licenses in Kampala. It is also engaging the energy ministry to work out a plan to shift some of the fuel stations.
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