MBARARA, Uganda –– Police in Mbarara City, together with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), have arrested three people suspected of stealing livestock, slaughtering the animals and transporting their meat to Kasese District and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for sale.
The suspects were arrested on Friday night at around 10:00 p.m. in Kageeti, Sanga Town Council, Kiruhura District, following an intelligence-led operation conducted by police and soldiers from the UPDF 2nd Division.
According to the Mbarara City Division Police Commander, SP Kenneth Kabwigo, the suspects were identified as Bazaara Steven, 62, a Congolese national; Peter Mutesasiira, 40, a resident of Nyendo; and Johnmary Muhindo, 50, from Kasese.
Kabwigo said the suspects were intercepted while travelling in two box-body vehicles, registration numbers UBR 721N and UA 144AE.
The vehicles were allegedly carrying carcasses from 39 cattle and 10 goats, some of which had already started to rot.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly told police that the meat had been obtained from animals suspected to have been stolen in Sanga Town Council and was being transported to the DRC for sale.
The suspects are currently being held at Mbarara City Police Station, while the two vehicles allegedly used to transport the meat have been impounded.
They are expected to face charges related to livestock theft and transporting meat without the required veterinary inspection.
Mbarara City Animal and Husbandry Officer, Dr Brian Ainomugisha, said transporting meat without veterinary inspection is prohibited because it can pose serious health risks to consumers.
Ainomugisha said veterinary officials had taken samples from the recovered carcasses to a laboratory for further examination after suspecting the possible presence of zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted from animals to humans.
He warned that the recovered meat was unsafe for human consumption and said it would be disposed of following the necessary procedures.
The arrests come barely a week after police in Mbarara City apprehended three other people accused of transporting animal meat in backpacks and selling it within the city.
