Two arrested for selling dog meat

By Owiny Jolly Tobbias

POLICE at Gulu Central Police Station are currently holding two men in custody on suspicion of selling dog meat to residents of Layibi Techo parish.

Waisswa Shaban, 47, from Mbale alongside Francis Amone both residents of Aringorwot village in Layibi Techo were rescued by police after being tipped that angry residents were lynching the pair after they failed to produce the head and legs of “the goat” they were selling according to Kasada Awali the OC Layibi Techo outpost.

The two were suspected to be selling dog meat after a vendor scented how different the meat was from that of a goat saying it smelt foul. The unidentified food vendor said she cunningly demanded for the head and legs.

Kasada said he immediately called for reinforcements from Gulu CPS to manage the mob after locals demanded to deal with the pair whom they said were selling ‘beef’ at only sh7,000 per kilo.

After calling for more evidence, the team of locals led by LC1 Valentine Okello combed the bushes around Waisswa’s homestead where they found a dog’s head and legs buried in a cassava garden.

“We found the skin buried under a tree’s roots but the head and the legs were buried in an anthill close to his neighborhood,” Okello said.

Although Waiswa had declined to formally make a police statement he later admitted that he was selling dog meat.

“At least an average meat consumer in this village has eaten my product for the past 4 months,” Waiswa said.

Meanwhile Amone detained together with Waiswa has recorded a statement under file SD REF: 04/12/11/2015at Layibi outpost although he denied any knowledge of the incident.

“Waiswa is my close friend. He found me at my home and told me to go and help him sell something he had packed tight in a bag for the evening booze,” Amone said.

Waiswa’s tainted past

Records from police and the LC1 office indicate a series of instances Waiswa has been guilty of committing crimes in the area. 

Awali revealed that Waiswa had been arrested several times for trading in stolen property and Okello said they had notified police and relevant authorities of his expulsion from the area over his unbecoming acts.

“As area authorities, we have notified police and other leaders that we won’t be responsible for whatever will befall Waiswa when he returns to the area. Our records show he trades in stolen goats and snatching property in the area,” Okello said.

Okello also said at one point Waiswa was reported after a dog he had been tasked to take for vaccination by its owner disappeared two weeks ago.

Waiswa’s product won him many customers according to Nelson Opira, a meat dealer at Layibi Downshop.

“I twice heard Waiswa’s name mentioned by some of my customers as selling meat at a cheaper price compared to the market price that goes between sh10,000 to 12,000shs per kilo in Gulu” Opira said.

Gulu Central Police OC CID James Asubu told New Vision that the pair will be charged with injury to an animal, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

“To my knowledge, there is no section of the law that victimizes such suspects however we shall charge them with injury to an animal,” Asubu said.