Police Hunts for Thugs Terrorizing Livestock Farmers in Wakiso
Issa Kabuye, a defence secretary of Katooke village, one of the most affected in Mende sub-county, said they are no longer sleeping in houses because thugs are stealing cattle from one home to another.
The Police in Nansana and Wakiso have launched a hunt for thugs terrorizing Mende sub-county farmers in Wakiso district. Police have been informed by locals that more than 10 farmers have lost their cattle and goats to thugs in the last three weeks.
Issa Kabuye, a defence secretary of Katooke village, one of the most affected in Mende sub-county, said they are no longer sleeping in houses because thugs are stealing cattle from one home to another.
“We have decided to forego sleep. Every day, a cow is stolen. They sometimes steal from two homes or more in one night and return after three days. We need security in this area. Our cattle and goats have been stolen,” Kabuye said.
On Wednesday, the locals waylaid a vehicle, an Ipsum UAA 935B, which was allegedly being used by the cattle thieves. The thugs abandoned the vehicle after being encircled by the locals at 3 am and fled.
“We decided to burn this vehicle because we have repeatedly spotted it in this area transporting cattle in the night hours. We believe all our animals stolen from this area have been transported using this Ipsum. That’s why we have burnt it,” Kabuye added.
Police have since formed a joint team to trace the suspected cattle thieves. The locals arrested a man identified as Lawrence Kakooza, whom they accused of hobnobbing with the thugs terrorizing them.
“I am innocent. I was just passing and I saw a crowd. I decided to stop and see what was happening. I have no connection with the thieves. Please don’t kill me. Don’t burn my motorcycle,” Kakooza cried out amidst slaps from the charged residents.
Kakooza was rescued by local leaders who whisked him away.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, said they are using Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to trace the common routes of the burned vehicle.
“We believe if we get the CCTV footage, it will help to identify the routes this car has been taking and who the occupants have been. We know we shall have these suspects who took off arrested,” Onyango said.
Ipsum, Premio and Gypsum are some of the common vehicles used to steal cattle and goats in the greater Kampala metropolitan area. Anti-Stock Unit (ASTU), Flying Squad and Mobile Police Unit have separately intercepted such vehicles loaded with cows and goats. In most cases, the occupants flee the scene, leaving the cars and animals in the middle of the road.
