Police have arrested 14 suspects following a dramatic raid on a garage in Kibuli, Kampala, where government fuel was allegedly being siphoned from official vehicles and sold to private buyers in a suspected theft racket.
The arrests followed an undercover investigation by Bukedde TV, which reportedly uncovered an alleged fuel diversion scheme involving vehicles belonging to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other government agencies.
For several weeks, journalists secretly recorded footage of numerous government vehicles entering the garage, where individuals were allegedly seen using hoses to drain fuel directly from their tanks.
According to the investigation, the siphoned fuel was being sold to private customers at Shs 6,000 per litre. Some of the fuel was reportedly transferred into a small tanker and transported to different locations across Kampala for resale.
Following the revelations, police officers attached to Kabalagala Police Station raided the premises on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, arresting 14 people suspected of involvement in the operation.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire confirmed the arrests, explaining that police acted on information and video footage showing government vehicles accessing the garage to have fuel removed.
Owoyesigire condemned the alleged practice, warning that it could have resulted in significant financial losses to the government.
“This is wrong and we think is causing great financial loss to the government. We still don’t know how long this act has been ongoing,” he said.
Among those arrested was reportedly an individual who had just driven into the garage to sell fuel. However, police said they had not yet established the government agency the individual was attached to.
Investigation Ongoing
The arrests have raised fresh questions about accountability and the possible misuse of government resources, particularly fuel allocated to official vehicles for public duties.
Police are expected to investigate how the alleged operation was organised, how long it had been running, and whether other individuals within government agencies could have been involved.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the 14 suspects or the total quantity of fuel allegedly stolen.
The suspects remain subject to the ongoing investigation, and further details are expected as police establish the full extent of the alleged operation.
