Police, URA Recovers Robbed Fuel Tanker on Jinja Highway

Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | In cooperation with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the police have successfully retrieved a fuel tanker that was robbed at gunpoint on the Jinja-Iganga highway.

This particular tanker, identified by its tractor head with registration number UBH 904U and trailer registration number UAT 093W, was forcibly seized in Wandhago village, Magamaga, on October 23, 2023, at approximately 9 p.m. The culprits responsible for the hijacking were unidentified assailants who were driving a Toyota Wish car at the time.

The stolen tanker was transporting 34,000 liters of diesel from Kenya, en route from Kenya to Fort Portal. The driver, Douglas Odyek, and his assistant, Emanuel Okello, both fell victim to the assailants, who also robbed them of their personal belongings.

Upon receiving reports of the robbery, the police promptly deployed the Flying Squad Unit, which successfully traced and recovered the stolen tanker at Mailo Mbili, Jinja North Division. The fuel had already been offloaded at JAFRA fuel station on Kubiri Kamuli road, with a total of 33,500 liters of diesel being reclaimed.

As of now, two suspects have been apprehended, including Henry Ashaba, the manager of JAFRA petrol station, and Anita Katono, a pump attendant, both of whom are believed to have participated in the fuel theft. Furthermore, the Flying Squad Unit has detained additional suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, in connection to these incidents. Various items such as vehicle number plates, military-style digital uniforms, reflector jackets, and four caps have also been recovered.

This marks the second incident this month of highway robbers targeting fuel tankers along the critical transport route from the Kenyan border. Last week, another fuel tanker loaded with 34 tons of kerosene was intercepted in Bukoyo, Iganga, but was successfully recovered in Jinja city when the robbers failed to breach its seals.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga has assured all goods transporters along the Mbale-Iganga-Kampala highway that efforts are being made to dismantle the entire criminal gang responsible for these acts of terror. He emphasized, “The arrest of the suspects demonstrates our commitment and resolve to rid the transport sector of criminality.”

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