Two shot dead in police chase over stolen cows in Toyota Prado

The luxury vehicle which was linked to cattle theft is seen in Mukono District on May 14, 2025 after it was intercepted and three cows recovered. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The incident is the latest in a series of livestock thefts that have plagued communities in Mukono and surrounding districts.
Police in central Uganda shot dead two men suspected of cattle theft after intercepting a luxury vehicle loaded with stolen livestock, authorities said on Wednesday.
The deadly confrontation unfolded at around 3am on May 14 along the Gayaza-Kayunga Road in Mukono District, when officers from Nagalama Police Station attempted to stop a Toyota Prado TX moving suspiciously through Kalagi Trading Centre.
“When signaled to stop the vehicle, they instead sped off. A pursuit ensued, and the vehicle was intercepted at Nakasajja Trading Centre,” Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The suspects attempted to flee on foot. Two were critically injured during the operation and pronounced dead en route to hospital.
Their identities have not yet been confirmed, and their bodies are being held at the city mortuary pending postmortem examination.
Police recovered three cows from the vehicle while some other suspects are believed to have successfully evaded arrest. The livestock is currently being held at Naggalama Police Division as authorities work to trace the rightful owners.
The incident is the latest in a series of livestock thefts that have plagued communities in Mukono and surrounding districts.
Just last week, two suspects transporting stolen cows in a numberless Toyota Noah were forced to abandon the vehicle after a security guard at Bugereka Village, Kyampisi Sub-county, fired warning shots. A local mob later set the car ablaze.
“Animal theft has become a common vice in the area. Many people have lost their animals to thieves,” Wilberforce Mukwaya Alamanzaani, the area defense secretary told Monitor on Wednesday.
“When police delay, the animals are gone. This demoralizes our farmers and forces them to abandon animal rearing,” he added.
Vincent Ssekanjako, a resident of Nakifuma-Naggalama Town Council, blamed the problem on rising youth unemployment.
“Most youths here don’t want to do casual work, but they want to live large. That’s where the problem starts,” he said.
Swaibu Kiryowa, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer for Kyampisi, urged the community to collaborate with security agencies.
“Vigilance is key if we are to rid the area of such criminal gangs,” he said.
According to the 2024 Annual Police Crime Report, Uganda registered 7,330 cases of cattle theft in 2024, down from 8,442 the previous year, a 14% decrease.
The report noted that 1,456 heads of cattle were recovered in 2024. Rwizi region reported the highest number of thefts, followed by North Kyoga, Rwenzori West, and East Kyoga.