By james art The truck overturned after an accident and later exploded in a town near Kampala, the capital, police spokesman Patrick Onyango said.
“The victims were burned beyond recognition,” he said in a statement.
A plume of dark smoke billowed from the scene, according to footage shared online by an onlooker.
The video appears to show people collecting fuel from the truck before the explosion, possibly in the hope of selling it.
The dangerous scene resembles a similar incident in Nigeria last week that killed more than 140 people, including children.
“This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of caution when handling hazardous materials,” Mr Onyango said.
Similar incidents have occurred throughout East Africa over the years.
At least 62 people were killed in Tanzania in 2019 when a mob tried to drain fuel from a broken-down truck.
In South Sudan, at least 183 people were killed in 2015 when hundreds of villagers gathered around a fuel truck to collect fuel.