KIRUHURA — Police in Rwizi Region have arrested five people in an intelligence-led operation targeting an alleged livestock theft and illegal meat trade network operating in Kiruhura District and parts of Mbarara City.
The operation was conducted in the early hours of Wednesday, August 12, by police officers from Kiruhura District, with support from Mbarara Central Police Station.
Police said the suspects were arrested at about 6:50 a.m. in Lubiri Cell, Nyamityobora Ward, Mbarara City South Division.
The suspects were identified as Dauda Kasujja, 45, a businessman; Moses Mugwisagye, 32, a businessman; Julius Mwijuka, 36, a bricklayer; Felix Muhumuza, 35; and Hamuza Swalleh, 70, a butcher.
Kasujja and Mugwisagye are residents of Lubiri Cell, Nyamityobora Ward, while Mwijuka and Muhumuza are residents of Sanga in Kiruhura District. Swalleh is a resident of Central Cell, Nyamityobora Ward, Mbarara City South Division.
Police allege that the group has been involved in stealing cows, goats and sheep, slaughtering them and illegally selling the meat.
The suspects reportedly targeted areas including Sanga Town Council, Akayanja, Kanyaryeru and Kikatsi sub-counties in Kiruhura.
According to police, the animals were allegedly slaughtered at farms and the meat carried in backpacks to Mbarara City for sale.
Investigators allege that Swalleh, a butcher at Nyamityobora Market, was the main financier of the operation and received stolen meat for sale at his butchery.
Police said the suspects would use public taxis to travel to Sanga before moving on foot to livestock kraals. After slaughtering the animals, the meat was allegedly transported to a rented house belonging to Kasujja in Mbarara, from where it was delivered to Swalleh’s butchery.
The alleged thefts were mainly carried out between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., with financial gain identified as the suspected motive.
The five suspects are currently being held at Sanga Police Station and are expected to be transferred to Kiruhura Police Station for further management as investigations continue.
Rwizi Region Police spokesperson SP Samson Kasasira said the arrests were a significant step towards dismantling organised livestock theft networks that have continued to trouble communities in Kiruhura and neighbouring areas.
The arrests come amid growing concerns over livestock theft in the greater Mbarara corridor.
Last month, Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda warned about the increasing cases of livestock theft and directed security agencies and Resident District Commissioners to intensify operations against criminal networks involved in the vice.
Babalanda said livestock theft was undermining government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), with reports indicating that some stolen cattle are sold within Uganda, particularly in Mitooma and Kasese districts, while others are allegedly smuggled across the western border into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Police said investigations into the alleged livestock theft network are ongoing.
