By KT Reporter
The Hoima District Security Committee (DSC) has banned the night-time transportation of animals and meat to combat rampant livestock theft in the area.
The move is intended to combat the escalating cases of theft of cattle in the district.
Hoima District is currently experiencing a surge in cattle theft with most cattle farmers accusing security of doing nothing to curtail the vice.
The most affected sub counties are Buseruka, Kapapi, Kyabigambire and Kabaale.
Rogers Mbabazi, the Hoima Resident District Commissioner (RDC) says, they sat and resolved that transportation of animals during the night hours should stop immediately.
He says intelligence led information gathered by security reveals that most of the stolen animals in the district are transported during the night hours.
“Most of these thugs raid the Kraals and steal cows during the night hours and transport them to other districts. We are suspending transportation of animals during the night hours to help combat cattle theft in the district, “said Mbabazi.
He has cautioned local Council one chairpersons in the district to desist from issuing fraudulent movement permits to cattle dealers allowing them to transport animals during the wee hours of the night.
He has also challenged veterinary officers to cease issuing fake permits and to thoroughly verify all paperwork authorising livestock movement in the district.
Mbabazi says currently, they have reactivated all the police checkpoints across the district to ensure that no one transports animals in the night. They have also deployed both foot and motorized officers to conduct patrols during day and night hours.
The district security committee has also suspended slaughtering of animals during the night hours saying this will not be tolerated.
According to Mbabazi, most of the stolen animals are being slaughtered in the night hours making it hard for the owners and security to trace for them.
He says, the district security committee has recommended that animals should be slaughtered between 8a.m to 5p.m. noting that whoever will be found slaughtering animals beyond the recommended time will be arrested and charged accordingly.
He says, they have formed vigilante groups to prevent stolen animals from being transported and slaughtered at night.
Statistics from the Albertine regional police indicate that between 10-15 cases of cattle theft are reported on a weekly basis in the Bunyoro sub region. The most affected districts are Kiryandongo, Buliisa, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kagadi and Hoima.
Sam Ntambara, a cattle farmer in Buseruka sub county has welcomed the new security measures initiated by security aimed at combating cattle theft in the district. He too concurs with security that most of the stolen animals are transported during the night hours.
Fred Kanyindo, a farmer in Kapapi sub county calls on police to intensify on the security surveillance network to ensure that cattle thieves are apprehended. A week ago, the police in Hoima City recovered eleven suspected stolen cows.
The animals were believed to have been stolen from Kakumiro District and were being transported to an unknown destination when they were recovered. This was after police responded swiftly to a tip-off from residents who spotted the cows roaming in the city center. The animals had been abandoned by the suspects following a suspected botched cattle theft.
After realizing police had noticed their movement, the suspects abandoned the cows and fled. In March, the police flying squad recovered 24 stolen cows in Masindi and arrested two suspects, Lawrence Farouk Busobozi and Alex Mukonyezi.
The animals had been stolen from Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi, Luwero, and Kiryandongo districts and stored in a kraal in Masindi.
In February, the police flying squad recovered fourteen stolen cows in Hoima City and arrested two suspects, Ronald Katooto, 35, from Nabiswera village in Nakasongola, and Godwin Tayebw, 38, from Kyankwanzi.
The stolen animals had been kept in a kraal in Kyarwabuyamba cell in Hoima East Division.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
