- Law Enforcement Success: Trailer and Fuel Thieves Apprehended
In a coordinated operation, the Flying Squad Unit, in collaboration with URA Enforcement and Jinja police, successfully recovered a stolen fuel tanker and trailer. The recovered vehicles were identified as a fuel tanker with registration number UBH 904U (head trailer) and a trailer with registration number UAT 093W, both loaded with diesel.
These vehicles had been taken during a robbery on the Magamaga highway in Mayuge district while en route from Kenya to Fort Portal. The victims, identified as Odyek Douglas, a 39-year-old driver, and Okello Emmanuel, a 26-year-old turnman, fell victim to the assailants’ ambush on October 23, 2023, at around 9 p.m. Their fuel tanker, carrying 34,000 liters of diesel intended for Fort Portal, was hijacked during the attack, along with their personal belongings, including mobile phones.
A subsequent investigation led the law enforcement team to track down the stolen trailer, ultimately discovering it at Mailo Mbili in Jinja North Division. Further investigation revealed that the fuel had been offloaded at the JAFRA Fuel station on Kubiri Kamuli road, with a total of 33,500 liters of diesel being recovered.
As of now, two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the theft of fuel. These suspects are identified as Ashaba Henry, the manager of JAFRA petrol station, and Katono Anitah, a pump attendant. It is alleged that both individuals played a role in the fuel theft. The Flying Squad Unit has also apprehended additional suspects, recovering vehicle number plates, military-style digital uniforms, reflector jackets, and four caps.
The authorities are keen to reassure all transporters of goods using the Mbale-Iganga-Kampala highway that they are actively working to dismantle the criminal gang responsible for terrorizing the transportation sector.
