By Jamillah Kemigisa
A routine night shift turned into a nightmare at Stabex Fuel Station in Kisoga town, Mukono District, when a gang of armed assailants launched a violent attack shortly after midnight on Sunday, leaving two workers seriously injured and fleeing with a stolen firearm and an undisclosed sum of cash.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, four attackers armed with guns, knives, and machetes stormed the premises and swiftly subdued the station’s night staff before unleashing a brutal assault.
Patrick Aliki, a security guard deployed by Ultimate Security Limited, sustained a deep stab wound to the head, while Brian Sentubwe, a fuel pump attendant, was stabbed in the eye. Both victims were initially rushed to Herona Hospital and later referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
“They had torches and weapons. We saw them on the CCTV feed, but they moved too fast. It was terrifying,” said a visibly shaken co-worker.
In addition to raiding the fuel station’s safe, the attackers snatched Aliki’s firearm, raising alarms over the possibility that the weapon could be used in future crimes.
The attack has drawn sharp criticism from residents, security experts, and civil society groups, exposing serious weaknesses in night-time security, especially at commercial fuel stations with minimal personnel on duty.
Authorities at Mukono Central Police Station have launched an investigation and say they are pursuing multiple leads. However, no arrests had been made by press time.
Dr. Robert Sekitto of Herona Hospital confirmed that the injuries were consistent with “premeditated, coordinated violence,” adding that medical staff have seen a worrying surge in similar attacks along the Kisoga–Ntenjeru corridor, a growing hotspot for organized crime.
Security analysts and civil society activists are now calling for urgent reforms in Uganda’s private security sector. Issues cited include:
- Inadequate training of guards
- Insufficient weaponry and safety equipment
- Low wages, which demoralize personnel and reduce their ability to respond effectively
“It’s clear that one guard on a night shift at a fuel station is not enough. We need new deployment strategies and regulatory oversight,” noted a security consultant familiar with the incident.
The brazen nature of the attack and the lack of immediate arrests have heightened tensions in Kisoga and surrounding trading centers. Residents are demanding increased police patrols, better lighting, and community vigilance programs to deter further violence.
With the perpetrators still at large, analysts warn that Uganda may be facing a rising wave of organized night-time crimes targeting vulnerable businesses and critical infrastructure.
“This was not a random robbery. It was calculated, fast, and deliberately violent,” one senior police officer remarked off the record. “We must act before more lives are lost.”
As the community grapples with fear and unanswered questions, one message rings clear: the status quo in private and public security deployment can no longer suffice.
