Fear and shock have gripped residents of Kamengo Town following a brazen night raid on a petrol station that saw armed thugs make off with Shs 27 million and two firearms in a coordinated and violent heist.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at a popular fuel station located along the Kampala–Masaka highway. According to police reports, a gang of unidentified assailants—armed with machetes and suspected firearms—stormed the station at around 2:30 AM, overpowering the night guards and disarming them before accessing the office and cash storage areas.
Eyewitnesses say the criminals arrived in a dark, unregistered vehicle, swiftly neutralized the two guards on duty, and broke into the station’s strongroom where they reportedly stole Shs 27 million in cash, which was meant for banking the following day. The thugs also stole two licensed rifles from the guards before fleeing the scene under the cover of darkness.
Mpigi District Police Commander, SP Joel Mugisha, confirmed the incident and said a full-scale investigation is underway.
“This was a well-coordinated and targeted robbery. The suspects knew what they were after. We have deployed a joint security team to track them down,” Mugisha told reporters.
No deaths were reported, but the guards were tied up and left injured, currently receiving treatment at a nearby health facility. CCTV footage from the petrol station is being reviewed as authorities hunt for leads on the suspects’ identities and possible getaway routes.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over rising insecurity and the targeting of financial hotspots like petrol stations, mobile money kiosks, and trading centers across the country. Local leaders and business owners are now calling for increased police patrols and better protection for facilities that handle large amounts of cash.
“We can’t continue to live in fear. Businesses are being targeted, and lives are at risk,” said one local LC1 chairperson.
The Uganda Police Force is appealing to the public to remain vigilant and share any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. Meanwhile, the stolen firearms remain unaccounted for, raising serious security concerns over the potential use of the weapons in future criminal acts.
This daring heist is the latest in a growing string of high-profile robberies across Uganda, once again highlighting gaps in night security and enforcement in rural and semi-urban areas.
