Three arrested for siphoning fuel in Fort Portal

Fort Portal, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The police in Fort Portal city have arrested three people for allegedly siphoning fuel from trucks belonging to China Chongqing International Construction Company Limited-CICO.

The company was contracted to work on the Kiguma-Bunyansaigi-Kibooro road.

The suspects have been identified as John Bosco Ayesiga, Andrew Nyakana and another suspect identified only as Bwambale. They were arrested on Tuesday night in an operation led by the police and the Mayor North Division, Fort Portal Tourism cit,y Joseph Mashuhuko.

Vincent Twesige, the Rwenzori West Police Spokesperson says that the suspects were found with three jerry cans of fuel which they had siphoned from a tractor and a grader.

He says that the operation followed a tip by vigilant residents in Kiguma that some people were conniving with the machine operators to siphon fuel from the graders, which they would later sell in Fort Portal city.

Rodgers Mbabazi, the Fort Portal Resident City Commissioner said that the constant theft of fuel could affect the completion of the road. Mbabazi also asked residents to remain vigilant and report such cases to the police.

In 2020, the government contracted CICO to tarmac the 2 kilometer Kiguma-Bunyansaigi-Kibooro road at 700 Million Shillings. The company has severally complained of fuel theft from their trucks, saying it could affect the progress of the project.

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