Herdsman stabbed to death in Kikuube district

Barely a week after a top security meeting was convened to curb the theft of cattle across the country, a herdsman was on Tuesday stabbed to death in Kikuube district.

The Police has since launched investigations into circumstances under which the herdsman only identified as Rukundo, 27, was stabbed to death by a colleague, David Kambaaho.

Both the deceased and suspect are residents of Ssebagoro village in Kikuube district.

Preliminary Police findings indicate that Kambaaho stabbed Rukundo after the latter refused to join him on a mission to steal cattle.

"Kambaaho attempted to convince the deceased into stealing the cattle in vain, prompting him to stab him. Kambaaho is currently on the run. There is a continued rise of attacks targeting herdsmen in a bid to steal cattle," the Police statement said.  

On Monday, the New Vision reported that the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeyi, directed the Police to work closely with state attorneys and magistrates in the Savannah region to curb the growing vice of cattle theft.

The directive was made after local leaders in the districts of Luweero, Nakasongola and Nakaseke, revealed that the increase in cattle theft in the area was being facilitated by criminal gangs and repeat offenders, who bought their way out of the justice system.

Sabiiti also directed the security operatives and local leaders to report to him directly cases of intimidation by government officials, who threaten them whenever they arrest the thieves.

Sabiiti led a high-level delegation of senior Police directors for a meeting with leaders from the districts of Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola on matters of livestock thefts in the Savannah region, following a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni during this year's Heroes Day celebrations.

Those who attended the meeting included director criminal investigations Grace Akullo, director of operations Edward Ochom, director of crime intelligence Chris Sserunjogi Ddamulira and the Police political commissar Asan Kasingye.

The regional Police commander of the Savannah region and his district Police commanders (DPCs) also attended the meeting, together with the resident district commissioners (RDCs), district chairmen and state attorneys.

The President's directive follows reports by Haji Edris Sseddunga, the chairperson of the Uganda War Veterans Association, who complained that many of the veterans who were compensated by the Government used the package to buy cattle.

He said, however, the cattle had been stolen from them. Sseddunga informed the President that some of the affected areas included Nabiswera, Nakitoma and Lwabyata.

However, residents of Kasolo, Malungu and Kikonda, among other villages in Bamunanika sub-county, Luwero district, have also complained of the same problem.

Godfrey Sseguya, the LC1 chairman of Kasolo, said the problem has persisted for more than 10 years. He said recently, residents waylaid and killed two cattle thieves on the outskirts of Bamunanika town council.

"The thieves come at night, to steal cattle, goats and pigs. Many people have now given up on rearing animals. This is going to worsen poverty in the area," Sseguya said.

Sseddunga told the President that in one case, over 30 head of cattle were intercepted on the Kasiiso-Luweero road by Police, but bigwigs in the Government intervened and the suspects were set free. Among those who had lost cattle is Sam Kigula, the Nakasongola district chairperson, who asked that the Police intervene immediately.

Luwero RDC Phoebe Namulindwa, told New Vision that they had shared credible information with the securitychiefs about the criminals.

"We know how they operate and which routes they prefer, and in which markets the cattle are sold," Namulindwa said.

The area leadership blamed the Police and courts, which they noted were working in favour of criminals in the area. Savannah region Police spokesperson Issa Ssemwogerere Kibazo, also noted that the local leaders decried the corruption within the security sector and courts of law.

"They informed the DIGP of the way criminals who were arrested were buying their way out of freedom, usually through phone calls to either the Police officers or state attorneys," he noted.

Ssemwogerere also said Sabiiti advised the locals to work closely with the security teams so that they weed out of society those known to be criminals.