Police recover fuel tank stolen in Iganga with 34 tonnes of kerosene

Kampala, (UG): Police on Tuesday said the semi-trailer tanker which was destined for Kampala and intercepted by thugs along the Iganga Highway three days ago has been recovered in Jinja City with 34 tonnes of Kerosene aboard it still intact.

In his weekly press briefing before journalists, Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga revealed that the semi-trailer tanker of Mercedes Benz (blue in colour) and Reg. no. UAU 402E which was intercepted by a group of 5 armed thugs at Bukoyo Village along the Iganga-Jinja Highway on Saturday, October 21, at around 9 pm was recovered from Jinja City by the Territorial Police from the Kiira policing region.

“All the Kerosene, which was being transported from Kenya to Kampala Prompet Energies Ltd, the depot was found intact,” Mr Enanga stated, before clarifying that the scene of crime was thoroughly documented, and the trailer with all its goods handed over to the management of Prompet Energies Ltd.

According to Mr Enanga, the group of thugs, five in number, aboard a Toyota Wish intercepted the driver of the trailer identified as Abdul Noor, a Somali national based in Kenya, and tied him up before robbing him of shs 120,000 and dumping him in Kakira sugar plantation.

“The driver of the trailer, Abdul Noor, a Somali national based in Kisumu, Kenya, who was attacked, dragged out, tied both hands and legs, and bundled into the car boot, of a Toyota Wish, whose number plates were not identified was recovered while dumped in Kakira sugar plantation. He was given first aid and his statement recorded at Iganga Police Station,” Enanga stated.

Police say efforts are now in place to have the suspects who fled from the scene, identified, tracked down, and arrested for their criminal actions, and called upon transporters to remain vigilant especially when transporting goods at night.

“The incident also shows that goods in transit, including fuel, continue to be targeted, especially at night, which calls for extra vigilance and target-hardening measures. The thugs attempted to break the seal in vain,” Mr Enanga said.

He also commended the rapid response from officers and detectives of the regional policing regions for their efforts towards the successful recovery of the tank with its goods still intact.

“We would like to commend our police response teams from the Kiira region, Busoga East, Jinja city, and Iganga, for their swift response and coordination, which led to the successful recovery of the trailer and its goods,” he stated, and further urged all truck drivers to call the Police’s National Operations Command Center in case of any suspicious activity on the road.

“We further call upon all truck drivers to call the National Operations Command Center on telephone numbers 0800199399, and 0800199699 and report any suspicious activity.”