Three detained over fuel and train robbery

Oct 18, 2016

Ssezibwa Region Police spokesperson,SP Lameka Kigozi confirmed the trio’s arrest adding that they will be produced to court to answer charges of Robbery upon completion of investigations

Police in Buikwe are holding three suspects who allegedly siphoned fuel from the train. Police have also mounted a search for other fifteen suspects who fled the scene after security operatives stormed and foiled the theft. The suspects in custody are identified as Robert Bengo a resident of Lweru parish ,Paul Ssemwogerere from Misindye and Buluhan Alwo from Nakasagazi all from Buikwe District.

It is alleged that the group is part of a gang of robbers operating in the districts of Jinja, Buikwe,Tororo Mayuge and Luuka. They are also suspected to operate in Butaleja and Iganga where they allegedly siphon fuel from the train.

Ssezibwa Region Police spokesperson,SP Lameka Kigozi confirmed the trio's arrest adding that they will be produced to court to answer charges of Robbery upon completion of investigations ‘'We managed to confiscate three motorbikes; Bajaj Boxer and a vehicle registration number UAU 728J the suspects were using .

We also seized 1200 litres of diesel the robbers had siphoned," Kigozi said. The suspects are being held at Nyenga Police station in Buikwe district with their exhibits, Kigozi further said. He said the suspects are believed to connive with some train operators. They allegedly purport to stage security check points on major railways especially in Eastern and Central Uganda.

 

When the train stops, they siphon the fuel from it. According the to the train Investigations officer Stephen Kyakoni, the suspects were arrested after a guard manning the train attached to SWAT security company became suspicious when the train stopped in a sugarcane plantation at Ssunga in Nyenga Sub-county. The guard notified his bosses who alerted the police.

The guard reported that he fired three bullets and some of the robbers and the train officers fled together with a security guard who was part of the plot of siphoning the fuel.

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