Luweero Police bust livestock theft racket, nine arrested, 70 animals recovered
The recovered animals, which by Wednesday were still being kept at Nakaseke Police Station, include 40 cattle, 12 goats and 8 sheep.
Twineamazima said one of the trucks was found carrying 23 cattle, four goats and two sheep, yet the movement permit authorised only 19 cattle and did not include goats or sheep. (New Vision/Files)
LUWEERO - The police in the greater Luweero have busted a racket of thieves believed to be behind the rampant theft of livestock in the region,arresting nine suspects and seizing a total of 70 cows,goats and sheep.
This followed a police operation, which they mounted in Semuto sub-county, Nakaseke district, on Tuesday afternoon. During the operation, two trucks carrying suspected stolen animals to Kampala were impounded.
The recovered animals, which by Wednesday were still being kept at Nakaseke Police Station, include 40 cattle, 12 goats and 8 sheep.
The Savannah regional police Spokesperson, Samuel Twineamazima, said the operation was conducted at around 2.00pm on Tuesday as the suspected stolen animals were being transported along the Kapeeka–Semuto Road in Nakaseke district.
Numerous residents are counting losses due to the rising wave of animal thefts that has hit the districts of Luweero, Nakasongola and Nakaseke.
According to Twineamazima, on intercepting the suspects, police established that there were discrepancies between the number of animals found on the trucks and the details contained in the livestock movement permits that the suspects presented.
Twineamazima said one of the trucks was found carrying 23 cattle, four goats and two sheep, yet the movement permit authorised only 19 cattle and did not include goats or sheep.
He said the second truck was transporting 17 cattle, eight goats and six sheep, yet its permit indicated only 12 cattle and made no mention of goats or sheep.
Both the recovered animals and the two trucks on which they were being transported were, by Wednesday, being kept as exhibits at Nakaseke Central Police Station.
Twiineamazima appealed to residents, who recently lost livestock, to visit Nakaseke police station and inspect the recovered animals.
Twiineamazima said investigations were ongoing by Wednesday to establish the rightful owners of the animals and to determine the full extent of the suspected livestock theft racket.
The police move comes amid escalating outcries from the general public and local leaders, who complained about the rampant livestock thefts, claiming that the vice is threatening the successful implementation of government anti-poverty programmes in the area. , making his remarks