By KT Reporter
The Police Flying Squad in the Albertine region have arrested three suspected cattle thieves.
The suspects, whose particulars have since been concealed, were arrested on Wednesday in Butema village, Buhanika sub-county, Hoima District.
The thugs, with others still at large, raided Kasongoire village in Masindi district last week and reportedly stole two cows from one of the cattle farmers in the area.
A case was reported at Masindi central police station that led to investigations into the theft of the cows. The flying squad started tracking the suspects, leading to their arrest on Wednesday in Hoima district. The two stolen cows have also been recovered.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, has confirmed the arrest and detention of the suspects, noting that they are cooperating well with detectives.
According to Hakiza, the three arrested suspects have been on the police’s most wanted list for a long time for being part of thugs who have been terrorising cattle farmers in the region.
He says, after stealing the animals, the thieves connive with their counterparts in the districts of Wakiso, Mukono, Gulu, Nakasongola, Kampala and Masaka, where the stolen animals are transported and sold.
The Albertine region is currently experiencing a surge in cattle thefts, especially in the districts of Masindi, Hoima, Kikuube, Buliisa and Kikuube.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, while in Kikuube last week, tasked the Albertine regional police Commander (RPC) to institute a special investigation into the rampant theft of cattle in the region.
In March this year, the police flying squad in the Albertine region recovered 24 suspected stolen cows and arrested two suspects.
The cows were recovered from Kunyamurara village in Bikonzi Sub County in Masindi district. The suspects were then identified as Lawrence Farouk Busobozi and Alex Mukonyezi.
Some of the recovered animals belong to cattle keepers in the districts of Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi, Luwero and Kiryandongo.
Information then revealed that the suspects would liaise with their colleagues in Luwero, Kiryandongo and Nakasongola to steal the animals before they are transported and kept in a kraal in Masindi.
In February this year, the police flying squad in the Albertine region recovered fourteen stolen cows and arrested two suspects. The cows were recovered from the Kyarwabuyamba cell in the Hoima East division.
The suspects were then identified as Ronald Katooto, 35, a resident of Nabiswera village in Nakasongola district and Godwin Tayebw, 38, a resident of Kyankwanzi district.
The two suspects would steal the cattle from the Savannah, Wamala and Albertine regions. They had established a kraal in Kyarwabuyamba in Hoima City where they would keep the suspected stolen animals.
Some of the recovered cows were then stolen from Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi and Nakasongola districts and transported to Hoima City-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
