The Uganda Police Force has provided an update on the recovery of a semi-trailer tanker, a blue Mercedes Benz bearing registration number UAU 402E. This trailer, which was seized by a group of five armed individuals on October 21, 2023, at approximately 9 PM in Bukoyo Village along the Iganga-Jinja highway, was transporting 34 tonnes of kerosene. The suspects had robbed the vehicle at gunpoint.
The stolen trailer was successfully retrieved in Jinja City by the territorial police from the Kiira region. Remarkably, all 34 tonnes of kerosene, destined for Kampala Prompet Energies Ltd depot from Kenya, were found intact.
A comprehensive documentation of the scene took place, and the trailer, along with its cargo, was returned to the management of Prompet Energies Ltd. The trailer’s driver, identified as Abdul Nuru, a Somali national based in Kisumu, Kenya, who had been assaulted, bound, and forced into the trunk of a Toyota Wish vehicle (whose license plates remain unidentified), was also rescued. He was provided with first aid, and his statement was recorded at Iganga police station.
Efforts are currently underway to identify, locate, and apprehend the suspects who fled the scene after their criminal actions. This incident highlights the vulnerability of goods in transit, particularly during nighttime hours, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and enhanced security measures. It is noteworthy that the assailants’ attempt to breach the cargo seal proved unsuccessful.
The Uganda Police Force commends its response teams from the Kiira region, Busoga East, Jinja City, and Iganga for their swift response and coordinated efforts, which led to the successful recovery of the stolen trailer and its cargo. The police urge all truck drivers to report any suspicious activities by calling the National Operations Command Center at telephone numbers 0800199399 and 0800199699.
