On alert: Police speaks on reports of plot to burn petrol stations after attacks in Gayaza, Sekanyonyi

Uganda Police Force says its Territorial Police in KMP North is “actively investigating a double attack on two petrol stations in Gayaza and Sekanyonyi.”

According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the attack at the Prime Petro Station Gayaza happened at around 1am on March 17.

Enanga says “a jerrycan of suspected petrol was hurled into the station, followed by a petro bomb which ignited a fire, that burnt one of the fuel pumps at the station.”

“The fire was successfully extinguished, although it caused damage to the fuel pump,” added Enanga.

Police says it is now “looking at the appearance of the conductor to a coaster mini-bus, who came to the petrol station claiming he had forgotten his medicine in the mini-bus” because “it is moments after he had left that the attack occurred fortunately no casualties were registered.”

About the attack at Lorris Petrol Station Sekanyonyi, which took place at about 1:30am the same night, police says three mean had “approached the fuel pump, with a 10 litre jerrycan, under the guise of fetching fuel.”

“They hurriedly poured petrol near the fuel pump and attempted to set the petrol station on fire,” said Enanga.

“The guards on duty responded and fired at them, as they escaped from the scene, but missed them. The 10 litre jerrycan with traces of suspected petrol was recovered, an old sack and a match box. There were no damages and or casualties.”

According to Enanga, “task teams are gathering more information about the double incident which appears to have been attacks targeting petrol stations.”

“The fact that the methods used are similar, makes us consider these attacks as some form of organised crimes, with a potential of domestic extremism, aimed at undermining the prevailing stability, peace and security in the country.”

He said police will continue to be on the alert to avert similar attacks.

It should be remembered that security had months ago claimed there was a plot by opposition politicians to burn petrol stations as part of a plot to cause chaos.