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KIKUUBE

Residents of Kyangwali sub-county in Kikuube district say they are living in fear over rampant livestock (cattle, goats and pigs) theft.

Kyangwali sub-county chairperson Emanuel Bisemeza says the residents are having sleepless nights over the increasing insecurity, which has seen over 20 cows stolen since the beginning of this year.

Bisemeza in an interview on Saturday, April 27, 2024, said increasing insecurity in the area is subjecting people to poverty who have decided to abandon the rearing of livestock.

According to him, the sub-county has only five Police post and few Police officers yet Kyangwali has a population of about 250,000 people.

Emmanuel Bisemeza, the Kyangwali sub-county Chairman, addressing the media about the increasing theft of cows. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

As a result, there is a gap for the criminals to cause havoc in the area because the few Police officers cannot undertake night patrols in the entire sub-county. Bisemeza has, therefore, called on the Government to intervene.

John Mwesigye, a resident of Kyangwali village in Kyangwali sub-county, said residents with livestock now spend nights outside guarding the animals.

He blamed the increasing criminality in the area on the growing idleness of youth who spend much of their time in towns gambling and during the night, they terrorise the community.

Mwesigye said he has lost three cows to the thugs in the last two years.

Whole district affected

Kikuube District Resident Commissioner Amlan Tumusiime said livestock theft is rampant in the whole district.

He added that the situation is compounded by the lack of officers of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), which is directly charged with mitigating cattle thefts.

According to Tumusiime, Kikuube had an anti-stock theft unit police based in Buhimba sub-county but it was withdrawn a few years ago.

According to him, last year, the Kikuube district security committee wrote and petitioned the inspector general of Police seeking the deployment of the anti-stock theft unit. However, they have never received a response.

"Our people are hardworking, they are engaged in livestock rearing but the increasing theft of these animals is pushing them out of business,” he said.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who was in Kikuube district last week, called on the local leaders to be vigilant on the issue of security and urged them to work with available Police officers to mount night patrol, which she said will help them to arrest the criminals.

She also promised to address the issue of livestock theft in the area to the IGP to see that he deploys anti-stock theft unit personnel in the area.