Police explain attack on Besigye’s fuel station

Police have said that the Saturday operation in which one suspected robber was killed and another severely injured was carried out by members of the Flying Squad Unit, an elite crime crack unit of the force.

Earlier reports indicated that two suspected were gunned down.

The suspects were cornered at Nsambya Total Petrol Station owned by Dr Kizza Besigye, an Opposition politician.

“Detectives from the Flying Squad Unit, in an intelligence-led operation, shot at two suspected armed robbers, killing one instantly and wounding the other. A third suspect, identified as Okello David, was arrested and is in police custody at Kabalagala Police station,” Police spokesman Mr Fred Enanga said in a Sunday statement that was published on the force’s website. “The body of the deceased, only identified as Hamza, was transferred to the City Mortuary for postmortem analysis, while the injured suspect, identified as Rubanga Baruli, was rushed to Mulago Hospital, for further treatment.”

He said: “The armed robbers, who approached the petrol station from the side of Nsambya Hospital, disguised as customers at the petrol pump. [They] were intercepted when one of them was heading to the supermarket. The detectives opened fire against them, after they evaded arrest and attempted to flee from the scene. An SAR Rifle and a Toyota Premio, Silver in color, were recovered.”

He said the operation was highly risky and required quick action due to the potential of severe injuries and collateral damage it could have caused.

“An investigative task team from the Regional Kampala Metropolitan South headquarters is thoroughly reviewing and documenting the crime scene. They will further with inquiries to establish the motive of the suspects,” Mr Enanga said.

He asked business owners to continue being vigilant and to always report all forms of threats facing them to police and sister security agencies.