By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Mbale City police has busted a racket that selling Aviation Fuel mostly to Street Kids and drug addicts.
The racket was busted on 25th September 2025, after police on routine patrol were tipped of a consignment of eleven jerrycans of Aviation Fuel being stored at Mbale City Taxi Park.
According to SP Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Police Spokesperson, police responded promptly and at about 9:30 AM stormed the Taxi Park where a one Ibrahim Masaba was found in possession of several jerricans of aviation fuel in a taxi parked at Total Petrol Station near the Taxi Park which was intended for sale to drug abusers in the city streets.
Taitika says Masaba Ibrahim, a resident of Namanyonyi, Northern Division in Mbale City was found to be a worker with management of the Taxi Park and one of his roles is to receive and keep consignments on orders of clients.
However, the key suspect and main dealer, so far only identified as Eric fled and remains on the wanted list to lead Police to his sources.
When arrested Eric will be charged with being in possession of contrabands to wit aviation fuel.
The aviation fuel in Mbale city is reportedly sold on the black market for between Shs30,000 to Shs50,000 to street kids and street men.
The impounded fuel is currently being held at Mbale Central Police Station but no suspects so far have been arrested.
In Uganda, laws governing aviation fuel sales are primarily overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). While specific laws directly addressing illegal sales of aviation fuel aren’t readily available, relevant regulations provide insight into the legal framework.
“The key suspect is Eric still on the run, whose arrest shall be vital to establish the source and the racket,” says Taitika.
