Police in Dokolo District are investigating a daring robbery in which a man masquerading as an official from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) stole millions from a fuel station after deceiving the manager into opening a safe.
The incident occurred on Monday morning at Dokolo Oil Petrol Station in Dokolo Town.
According to police, the suspect — who identified himself as Mwesigye Baine — arrived at the station claiming to be an IGG officer from the Lira City regional office on official duty to investigate fraud at Dokolo District Local Government.
The man reportedly told pump attendants that he was in the district to inspect how local government officials, particularly the LC V Chairperson, James Otto Apili, and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), draw fuel from the station.
To appear credible, the suspect signed the visitors’ book and requested to meet the station manager, Benard Olila.
North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema said that once inside the manager’s office, the suspect demanded to see records showing how much fuel the district officials had drawn and the corresponding payment receipts.
“Olila went to another room to fetch the receipts where the safe was also kept, and the impostor followed him inside. The suspect suddenly locked the door, pulled out a pistol, and pointed it at the manager,” SP Okema said.
He added, “The suspect tied the manager’s mouth with masking tape, bound his hands, and made off with approximately Shs6 million from the safe.”
After the robbery, the man locked Olila inside the office and walked away calmly without arousing suspicion from the pump attendants or the private security guard on duty from Rock Security Company.
It was only after Olila began shouting and banging on the door that the staff realized something had gone wrong.
“When they opened, he narrated what had happened, and they realized the man they had seen walking away minutes earlier was actually the suspect,” SP Okema said.
A team of detectives and a Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) from Dokolo Police Station examined the scene, and investigations were launched to track down the impostor.
Police have since detained the station manager, Benard Olila, to assist with ongoing investigations, citing inconsistencies in his account of events.
“The manager has been detained due to lack of corroborating findings and to assist in the ongoing inquiries,” SP Okema said.
Police have urged fuel station operators and other business owners to remain vigilant when approached by individuals claiming to be government officials and to always verify their identities before granting access to financial records or restricted areas.