Police Crack Down on Fuel Theft in Hoima, Masindi

Police in the Albertine region have launched an anti-fuel siphoning drive to curb a growing trade in stolen fuel in the Bunyoro region.

 

The vice is common in the districts of Hoima and Masindi. The companies most targeted for fuel siphoning are Kinyara Sugar Works, a sugar production company firm in Masindi and Collin Construction, a Turkish company contracted to construct the 92 kilometre Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya roads in Hoima district.

 

Collin Kaganzi, the mobile police patrol unit commander says they are closely monitoring and supervising Hoima-Masindi route, Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road and Hoima-Butiabe road where fuel siphoning has gained ground.

 

He says night and morning patrols are being carried out on those routes to arrest the suspects.

 

This follows a complaint by Collin Construction Company that over 3000 litres of fuel have gone missing from their stores and they are losing more fuel being siphoned from their trucks by thugs over the weekend.

 

Kaganzi says they are also investigating allegations that several telecommunications generators fuel is also been siphoned.

 

Kaganzi says one serial stolen fuel suppler has already been arrested.

 

Saidi Byaruhanga, a resident of Pakanyi surbubs of Masindi district, was arrested at Bukerenge trading centre in Kitoba Sub County Hoima district with 1200 litres of stolen fuel from Collin Construction Company.

 

Kaganzi says Byaruhanga who was arrested on Monday morning by MPPU. He has been reported to have been a serial fuel thief in areas of Kiryandongo, Masindi and Hoima. He says the suspect leads a group of others thugs dealing in fuel in different areas.

 

He says Byaruhanga had opened up a depot at Bukerenge trading centre which was acting as a collecting centre for stolen fuel from big companies in Hoima and Bulisa districts.

 

Simon Rumanywoha, the chairperson Bulemwa village in Bukerenge Kitoba sub county, says the suspect would often visit the areas with several jerrycans and transport the fuel at night.

 

Kaganzi says the suspect who is detained at Hoima police station will be charged with theft.

 

He says they are investigating other criminals behind the illicit trade.