Security heightened as cattle thefts hit Bushenyi

BUSHENYI.

Security in Bushenyi District has been beefed up following increased cattle theft in the area.

Security and local leaders say more than 50 head of cattle have been stolen in the recent past and have not been recovered.

Addressing residents of Ruharo in Central Division, Ishaka-Bushenyi Municipality on Wednesday, the district police commander, Mr John Rutaagira, said insecurity had forced residents to start staying with animals inside their houses at night.

“The crime is being fuelled by some local council chairpersons who aid the thieves to get animal movement permits,” Mr Rutaagira said.
In January, three village chairpersons were remanded to Nyamushekyera Prison on charges of stealing cattle.

Mr Rutaagira said the cattle thieves have devised new tricks to elude security such as transporting meat of stolen cattle in milk cans and sacks. These tricks, he said, require strong cooperation between residents and security agencies.

Local authorities and security agencies have directed all butcheries and owners of abattoirs to stop disposing of cattle brought for slaughter before 11am to give those looking for their stolen cows a chance to identify them.

The district chairperson, Mr Wills Bashasha, called for naming and shaming of known cattle thieves at all public functions.

Directive
Mr Isaac Kawooya, the Resident District Commissioner, directed that all animals for slaughter be inspected by security agencies and local authorities.

He also said slaughtering should be done only after daybreak and at gazetted abattoirs.
Mr Rutaagira said most of the stolen cattle are taken to Kasese District and across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo.