Thieves steal eight cattle, slaughter four in Butaleja
According to police, the animals were stolen during the night of September 3, 2026, by unknown people. Wopera reportedly discovered the theft at about 6:00 am when he woke up to go to the garden and found the kraal empty.
Thieves steal eight cattle, slaughter four in Butaleja
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Police in Butaleja district are investigating the theft of eight cattle from a kraal in Luhola West village, Kachonga parish, Naweyo subcounty, with four of the animals later slaughtered and abandoned in Mbale district.
The animals belonged to Musa Wopera, 65, a peasant and resident of Luhola West village. The stolen livestock comprised four oxen, three cows and one calf.
According to police, the animals were stolen during the night of September 3, 2026, by unknown people. Wopera reportedly discovered the theft at about 6:00 am when he woke up to go to the garden and found the kraal empty.
He reported the matter to Naweyo Police Station, prompting investigations into the theft.
While at the police station, Wopera reportedly received information that several animals had been slaughtered and abandoned under eucalyptus trees in Nambale village, Bungokho subcounty, Mbale district.
Moses Johnson Mugwe, the Bukedi South Regional Police spokesperson, said four of the stolen animals had been slaughtered, with the thieves taking part of the meat before abandoning the carcasses at the scene.
“A total of eight cattle were stolen from the kraal of Musa Wopera and one white ox was recovered alive from Nambale village in Mbale district,” Mugwe said.
He said police established that the animals were stolen from Butaleja and transported to Mbale, where they were slaughtered.
“It was observed that after stealing the animals, the thieves went and slaughtered them, took part of the meat and abandoned four carcasses,” Mugwe said.
The recovered white ox was taken into police custody as investigations continued.
Police registered the case of cattle theft under Butaleja CRB 275/2026 to facilitate investigations and establish the identities and whereabouts of the suspects.
Police also recorded statements from relevant witnesses as part of the investigation.
A police canine was introduced at the scene in an attempt to track the suspects. However, the dog reportedly lost the trail because the scene had been contaminated by a large number of people.
Mugwe said no arrests had been made by the time of reporting, but police were pursuing intelligence leads to identify and apprehend those behind the theft.
“No arrest has been made yet, but efforts are still underway to establish their whereabouts with the aid of intelligence,” Mugwe said.
Preliminary investigations also established that the cattle had been kept in an unfenced kraal at the time they were stolen, a circumstance police believe may have made it easier for the thieves to access and drive away the animals unnoticed.
Police are continuing with inquiries into the incident and tracing the movement of the stolen cattle from Butaleja to Mbale.