Road safety: Vivo Energy tests tanker response

Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | When a fuel tanker catches fire on a busy highway, the response cannot depend on the driver or the company alone.

Police must secure the scene, firefighters have to contain the blaze, medical teams must deal with casualties and other road users may have to be kept away from the danger zone.

It is this chain of response that Vivo Energy Uganda sought to test on September 15 when it staged a simulated fuel tanker fire along the Masaka-Mbarara Highway.

The exercise brought together the company, its road transport haulers, police, fire brigade, ambulance services and local authorities as part of Vivo Energy Uganda’s 2026 annual safety campaign, themed “Prepare to Respond.”

The simulation was designed to test how the different players would communicate and coordinate during a road emergency involving a fuel tanker.

For fuel transporters, the consequences of a road crash can extend beyond the occupants of the vehicles involved. A tanker fire can expose other motorists, passengers, emergency responders and nearby communities to additional risks.

The exercise therefore tested firefighting, rescue and medical response, as well as incident management and communication between the company and public emergency agencies.

George Lwawuga, HSSEQ Manager at Vivo Energy Uganda, said preparedness required more than having emergency procedures on paper.

“The theme ‘Prepare to Respond’ is about being ready before an incident happens. It is not enough to have emergency procedures; we need to understand them, practise them and know exactly what to do when an incident occurs. Today’s drill allows us to test our response, identify areas where we can improve and strengthen coordination with our transport partners and emergency services.”

The drill also raises a broader road-safety question: how prepared are the different actors to deal with incidents involving vehicles carrying hazardous materials?

Prevention remains the first line of defence. For companies transporting fuel, this includes driver training, vehicle maintenance, safe handling of cargo and systems for managing risks along transport routes.

But even with preventive measures, emergency response remains an important part of road safety because a crash can quickly involve people and agencies beyond those directly responsible for the vehicle.

Vivo Energy Uganda says it has incorporated emergency preparedness into its wider safety programme through training, risk management, engagement with contractors and transport partners and regular testing of response procedures.

The company also conducted fire drills at its depots in Mbale, Busia and Kampala, as well as crisis simulations involving employees, contractors and transport partners.

Joanita Mukasa Menya, Managing Director of Vivo Energy Uganda, said safety preparedness should not be treated as an annual exercise.

“Safety is not an activity we do once a year; it is part of how we work every day. This year’s theme, ‘Prepare to Respond’, reminds us that while we work hard to prevent incidents, we must also be prepared to respond quickly and effectively when something unexpected happens. That preparedness can make a critical difference in protecting our people, our partners, our customers and the communities around us.”

The involvement of public emergency agencies was significant because a major road incident involving a tanker would require coordination beyond the company and its transport contractor.

Police would have to manage traffic and secure the area, firefighters deal with the fire, while ambulance teams would be responsible for medical emergencies.

Mukasa Menya said such coordination was one of the lessons from the exercise.

“Today’s exercise demonstrates the value of collaboration. Our road transport partners, police, fire brigade, ambulance services and local authorities all have an important role to play in an emergency. By practising together, we strengthen our readiness and learn where we can do better. Our ambition remains Goal Zero – no harm to our people, business partners, customers or the environment.”

Vivo Energy Uganda markets and distributes Shell fuels and lubricants in Uganda. The company says its “Goal Zero”ambition is aimed at preventing harm to its employees, business partners, customers and the environment.

However, the value of an emergency drill ultimately lies in what follows the exercise.

Identifying weaknesses in communication, response times, equipment or coordination only improves road safety if those gaps are documented and addressed.

Vivo Energy Uganda said the drill would help it identify areas for improvement and strengthen coordination with its transport partners and emergency services.

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