Police have launched an intensive manhunt for a gang of armed attackers who injured two workers and stole a firearm during a violent raid on a fuel station in Mukono District, the latest in a series of attacks targeting petrol stations and private security personnel in the area.
The attackers struck in the early hours of Friday, overpowering staff at the station before fleeing with a gun belonging to a security guard and approximately Shs350,000 collected from overnight fuel sales.
The victims were identified as Patrick Aliki, a security guard attached to Ultimate Security Limited, and Brian Sentubwe, a pump attendant. Both sustained injuries during the attack and were rushed to a nearby health facility for treatment.
According to preliminary findings, the assailants descended on the station under the cover of darkness and quickly subdued the workers before making away with the firearm and cash. The incident triggered a police response, with investigators and forensic officers visiting the scene to collect evidence and interview witnesses.
A witness, Rasuud Bazibu, recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying the attackers appeared determined and heavily armed.
They came with knives, guns and torches. It all happened so fast,” Bazibu said.
The theft of the firearm has heightened concern among security agencies, which have repeatedly warned that guns stolen during robberies often find their way into other criminal activities, including aggravated robberies and violent attacks.
The Mukono incident adds to a growing pattern of attacks on fuel stations in the district and surrounding areas. Security analysts say petrol stations remain attractive targets for criminals because they operate throughout the night, handle cash transactions and are often guarded by a small number of security personnel.
The attack also revives memories of a deadly robbery in Mukono in May 2025 when armed assailants stormed a fuel station along Katosi Road, killing two security guards — Deo Senabulya and Joseph Onyaiti — before escaping with cash and a firearm. That incident sparked widespread concern about the vulnerability of fuel stations and prompted calls for tighter security measures.
In another attack reported in Kisoga, Mukono District, armed robbers critically injured a security guard and a pump attendant while stealing a firearm from a fuel station, underscoring what police have described as an emerging trend of criminals targeting guards to obtain weapons.
Investigators are now pursuing several leads in the latest case as efforts continue to identify and arrest the suspects. Police have appealed to members of the public who may have information about the attackers or the whereabouts of the stolen firearm to come forward and assist with the investigation.
The latest robbery is expected to renew calls for enhanced security at fuel stations, including the installation of surveillance systems, improved lighting, deployment of additional guards and stronger coordination between private security companies and law enforcement agencies.
For now, residents and business owners in Mukono remain anxious as police race to recover the stolen weapon and bring those responsible to justice.
