Senior officers cited in sophisticated syndicate

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Cattle theft in Uganda has evolved into a sophisticated and lucrative enterprise facilitated by underground networks that have spread across East Africa, an investigation reveals.

According to Police, the cattle theft racket, which mainly targets the cattle corridor districts, is masterminded by senior cops.

The Police officers that a Police report has allegedly linked to the racket include, Constable No.68299-Andrew Buyinza alias Nabaasa, a resident of Wobulenzi in Luwero district, and Police Constable No. 68244-Cleous Masereka, who is attached to Luwero Central Police Station.

Some of the stolen cows from Nakaseke district that were seized by Katwe Police in Kampala recently. (Courtesy photo)

According to intelligence sources, to execute their raids, the duo allegedly hires vehicles from Kitebi-based tour company in Kampala, claiming they are executing clandestine Police operations.

However, investigations have established that after hiring the said vehicles, the Police officers, who were arrested a fortnight ago, hand the vehicles to another suspect, Abdu Kirumira, to execute the grand.

Kirumira, a resident of Kiyenje zone, in Luwero town council, who co-ordinates the location of the cows for transportation up to the last destination of sale in Kampala and outside Uganda, was also arrested this week.

Some of the goats which were being smuggled in a salon car by Luwero Police. (Courtesy photo)

Police officers said as the country gears up to the festive season, an increase in cattle theft countrywide is anticipated. Disgruntled cattle keepers across the cattle corridor told Weekend Vision that they have resorted to sleeping in kraals to guard against thieves.

It is alleged that together with another suspect, Eric Muganza, the accused Police officers, also run a parallel investigations agency known as, Bravery Private Investigators. It is based at Kaludo complex in Luwero district. Detectives said the suspects have overtime used the agency to masquerade as Police’s Flying Squad Unit.

During a Police operation recently, Stephen Kaboneka, Edrisa Sokolo and Joel Mpiima (also fresh from Wakyaato Government Prison) were arrested over cattle theft-related charges.

“Kaboneka had also just been released over the theft of five goats that belonged to Julius Ziraba, a resident of Saasira village, Namansa Parish along the Nakasongola-Gulu highway. It is alleged that last year (2023) on July 1, together with a one Ssejjemba, a resident of Nambeera and his gang raided Kiwanula village in Mazzi Parish, Kamira Sub-County and stole four cows from a one Musisi,” a detective close to the investigations said.

“As they were transporting the stolen cows on a Canter truck registration number UAY 467C, their vehicle got involved in a crash in Kasangati, which prompted the occupants to flee,” the detective added.

When officers at Kasangati Police Station arrested the suspects, detectives said, one suspect, Darius Kasujja, allegedly called Eric Mganza and Kenneth Mustafa of Bravery Private Investigators and they were released.

“A Police officer, identified as Eddy Kagoda, attached to Field Force Unit (FFU) that was on suspension from duty, presented himself as a detective claiming to be attached to Luwero Police Station that had been sent to pick the accident case file from Kasangati Police.

Investigations have established that Kagoda successfully picked the case file from Kasangati,” a detective close to the probe said.

THE INVESTIGATIONS

Investigations show that the Savannah cattle corridor that covers the districts of Luwero, Nakasongola and Nakaseke is one of the areas that have been greatly affected by the emerging sophisticated cattle theft racket.

For instance, between May and June this year, police detectives said, a total of 112 cases of cattle theft were registered within the three districts.

The canter truck that got involved in the Kasangati accident while carrying suspected stolen cows. (Courtesy photo)

In the month of May, Nakasongola registered the highest number of cases (32) followed by Luwero (11), while Nakaseke registered nine (9) cases.

In June, Police in the area registered 60 cases of cattle theft in the Savannah cattle corridor, out of which, 43 were reported from Nakasongola district, nine in Nakaseke, and eight from Luwero.

Yet, according to the Nakasongola district LC5 chairperson, Sam Kigula, on average, 50 cows are stolen every month.

It is alleged that the criminals behind the cattle theft syndicate also have spies who conduct surveillance before the main actors’ raid and load the stolen cattle before they reach the buyers or promoters.

"We are puzzled that some people manage to pass these roadblocks at night, Godfrey Lutalo, a livestock farmer in Nakasongola who this week lost five cows to thieves, said.

In Luwero, detectives said: “The gang uses specific market centres while executing their theft missions. For example, in Luwero, there is Wobulenzi, and Busiika, Bamunaanika and Ziroobwe. Most of the cattle from these areas end up in Gayaza, but usually offloaded from a place called Kasasiro. Others are usually offloaded from Kiteezi before they reach Kalerwe market for sale. Sometimes, the gangs use Kafu route to transport the stolen cattle up to Masindi and Hoima respectively.”

This carcas belong to cattle that was stolen from Kamira, Mazzi, Luweero. (Courtesy photo)

“Wakyaato sub-county in Luwero district is among the key areas within the Savannah cattle corridor that have suffered the problem of cattle theft. Recently, three of the stolen cows that were destined to Entebbe, in Wakiso district, were intercepted by Katwe Police in Kabowa, in Rubaga division. The cows had been reportedly stolen from a one Kasozi, based in Butuntumula. They were being transported in Alphad car registration number UBD 118A and Toyota Wish registration number UBJ 575A, driven by a one Kirumira, who was recently released from Luzira Prison,” the detective said.

Specific washing bays in trading centres, detectives added, are major planning conduits for the emerging cattle theft rackets.

The other gang behind the new racket, detectives said, is allegedly led by Hamis Masembe, a resident of Nabiswera village in Nakasongola district.

“Intelligence information indicates he operates with Edrisa Sokolo, and a senior driver, identified as Aramanzani Ggwanga,” Police noted in its report.

Sam Twineamazima, the Savannah Regional Police spokesperson, said although police faces challenges such as limited manpower, they have mounted a hunt for cattle thieves within the area.

TRICKS USED

“Whenever he steals the cows, it is reported that Masembe usually dresses the cows with army uniforms and sometimes uses military personnel as his escorts hence making it difficult for ordinary Police officers on road blocks to arrest him. It has also been established that he supplies most of his stolen cows in the districts of Hoima and Masindi,” a police officer privy to the investigations said.

Police detectives are also investigating other suspects based in Kigumba, in Kiryandongo district, who were recently arrested and released on police bond.

Investigations, detectives said, have expanded into how the leaders of cattle theft gangs deal with farm herders to orchestrate the grand theft that has left the cattle corridor on its knees.

“Hussein Mukiibi alias Kusein, a resident of Kiwanula village in Mazzi Parish, Kamira Sub-County in Luwero district and Emmanuel Kato alias Nzamaire from the same area plus Miiro Katabalwa of Gayaza collaborate with herdsmen on the farm directly in the theft missions,” a detective said.

The detective added that: “We are keeping our keen eye on Fred Ninga and Sam Kezimbira because we have been reliably informed that they usually connive with one Kasamba alias Rasta Kaconco (cattle loader) to steal cows from their boss’ farms and later rush to make reports at Police that some cows are missing and likely to have been stolen by unknown people.”

Richard Magezi, who owns a cattle farm in Mazzi in Luwero, is the latest victim of cattle theft. He told Weekend Vision that he reportedly lost 10 Boran breeds.

In the course of the investigations, Police said they arrested his herdsmen who led them to Hussein Mukiibi (also owns a farm) who had bought them.

“Upon interrogation, Mukiibi confessed to have bought Magezi’s cows from his herdsman (Ninga) and also led the detectives to his colleague one Miiro Katabalwa, who was also on the same mission. The case is registered vide CRB: 560/2024 at Luwero Police Station, and so far, Flying Squad under the Directorate of Crime Intelligence have so far arrested seven suspects over the matter,” a detective said.

According to the detectives, some cattle thieves also masquerade as military officials.

“The information we have shown these people including; Augustine Muwawu and Frank Senfuka claimed to be Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) reserve force officers attached to Kawempe resource centre but we later realised they were mere impersonators,” a detective said.

COMMON ROUTES USED

In a bid to stop the vice, security have identified the routes commonly used by the gangs to execute the deadly cattle theft rackets.

“For instance, those stolen from Luwero, the gang use Kamira-Kikyuusa road via Ziroobwe and passed through Gayaza to connect to Kalerwe market, where most of the stolen cows from Luwero are sold. Still in Luwero, some of the cows stolen from Mazzi side are passed via Kasiiso, join Kasana and move up to Wobulenzi before they connect to Bombo-Kalule town up to Kampala. Others use Kampala-Gulu highway (through Nakasongola),” Police said.

“Others use Nakaseke-Butalangu-Ssemuto via Matugga-Kaleerwe, but the most deadly areas are in Kalagala-Ngogolo then to Kampala-Gulu highway. Still in Nakaseke, for the cattle stolen from Ngoma, the thugs normally use Kinyogoga via Katugo to Kampala and Kawoko-Luwero vias Lugogo swamp respectively. Those taken to Hoima, Masindi, and Kigumba the culprits use the Kafu route while on a rare occasion, the thugs use Nakasongola via Kafu to Masindi port using a ferry that connects them to Apac. This applies especially to those stolen from big farms,” Police detectives added, noting that some thieves cross Lake Kyoga to connect to Namasale in Amolatar district via Bulwandi-Bbaale County, in Kayunga district.

According to Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, Racheal Kawala, some suspects that have been arrested such as Farouk Kagulire, have a known-criminal record.

“One of the key suspects, Kagulire, had just been released from Masindi prison after serving a three-year sentence. He was released on June 25, 2024,” Kawala told Weekend Vision. 

CATTLE MOVEMENT PERMITS

According to Police, although one requires a permit to transport animals, cattle thieves employ cunning tactics to perpetrate the crime, including recruiting veterinary officers, who aid them to maneuver out of the requirement.

“For instance, for one to move an animal from one place to another, they must have an introduction letter from the area local council authorities clearly indicating the source and next destination of that particular animal, a movement permit from the area District Veterinary Officer (DVO). Animals are also not supposed to be transported beyond 6:00pm. (Animals are supposed to be transported from 6:00am-6:00pm). They are strictly supposed to strictly be transported on gazetted open roofed vehicles but not the salon cars as thieves do,” Kawala said.

Police added that corruption within district veterinary offices and the use of fake car registration umber plates are the other tricks that thieves use to execute their mission.

The 2023 Police annual crime report indicated that a total of 8,442 cases of cattle theft were reported, compared to 7,975 cases reported in 2022. This indicates an increase of cattle thefts by 5.9%.

Besides cattle, a total of 6,438 goats, 1,040 sheep, 36 donkeys and 1,207 pigs were stolen from farmers last year.

OTHER AREAS

In other cattle corridor areas, similar cattle theft rackets have been registered in recent past.

To avert the problem, Fort Portal Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Emmanuel Businge told Weekend Vision that regional joint meetings have been encouraged to monitor the trend.

Businge added that military personnel have also been deployed at various strategic points within the cattle corridor to monitor—day and night the movement of livestock.

According to Jack Magezi, the Kicwamba sub-county chairperson in Kabarole district, the issuance and verification of animal moving permits have played a pivotal role in curbing animal thefts.

“Every animal that is brought to the market or to the abattoir must have a movement permit certified by the village chairperson,” he said.

Some of the stolen cows from Nakaseke district that were seized by Katwe Police in Kampala recently. (Courtesy photo)

The heavy deployment, Katakwi Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Maj. Godfrey Katamba, said has also curbed cattle rustling in the Teso-Karamoja region where cattle raids and thefts had taken root in the past.

With the establishment of the Teso Usalama Brigade (headed by Col. Juddy Rukubya) this year, officials said an average of five cows are stolen monthly in Teso.

“What we are left with now are internal cattle thefts by our own people who have copied the style of stealing from the Karamojong thieves,” Katamba said.

Karamoja Police region spokesperson Mike Longole also said cattle raids in the region have reduced.

In Sebei region, leaders said the crime is a thorn in the flesh for the livestock farmers who have been counting losses time and again.

“Suspected cross-border rustlers from western Kenya (especially the Pokot) and the neighbouring Karamoja have been a big threat to Sebei. These (illegally armed rustlers) attack communities randomly and mostly at night. To make it worse, they kill the owners who try to resist their illicit actions as well,” Sipi Police region spokesperson Fredmark Chesang said.

Chesang added that Sipi Zonal Police records indicate that 3,000 livestock have been stolen in the past four months within Sebei, comprising of the districts of Kapchorwa, Bukwo and Kween.

The trend, Kween District Woman MP Emma Rose Cherukut said, has “caused death and economic trauma” within the region.

“We have lost several animals to the raids and we have buried more than enough victims of these raiders. Let us find the final alternative to combating it,” she said.

Within Bunyoro, Albertine Police region spokesperson Julius Hakiza said the cattle theft trend is on the rise. In some districts such as Kikuube, Hakiza added, cattle thieves use motorcycles to transport animals to leaders of the rackets.

According to cattle farmers in the Rwenzori region, thieves raid at night and sell the stolen cows to traders across the country in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Maj. Bilal Katamba, the army mountain division spokesperson, said a high-level security meeting was convened this week and measures have been put in place to counter livestock thieves.

"In Ntoroko district, almost every community has a military detach, which is in addition to their day today duties, has been also charged with the responsibility of addressing livestock theft," Katamba said.

"Security has managed to recover several stolen animals that have been brought for sell in the market,” he added, noting that military checkpoints have also been mounted at border points with DRC and other countries to counter the vice. 

ISINGIRO MODEL

The Isingiro district LCV chairperson, Aaron Turahi, said for the past months they have received no cases of animal theft in his district because they passed a resolution ordering Police not to give police bond to any animal thief.

“Like any other district, animal theft was high in our district. We sat as a district and passed a resolution ordering police never to give animal thieves bond. This has worked for us. Now thieves fear stepping in Isingiro,” Turahi said.

For the districts of Kazo and Ntungamo, leaders said that night patrols by security have stamped out cattle theft rackets.

Additional reporting by Abdukarim Ssengendo, Rogers Sunday, Emmanuel Alomu, Javier Silas Omagor, Wilson Asiimwe, Frederick Kiwanuka and Olandason Wanyama