Police in Mbarara District have arrested three suspects linked to cattle theft and recovered animals believed to have been stolen from a farm in neighbouring Ibanda District.
The suspects were intercepted on Thursday morning while transporting three cattle in Bwizibwera Town.
According to Mbarara District Police Commander SP Benon Byamukama, the suspects were travelling in a white Toyota Canter, registration number UBH 094W, when officers stopped the vehicle.
“We intercepted a white Toyota Canter, registration number UBH 094W, in Bwizibwera Town carrying three cattle suspected to have been stolen from Ibanda District,” Byamukama said.
Police identified the suspects as Herbert Mwebaze, 32, a resident of Bisheshe Division in Ibanda District; Ibrahim Mutebi from Nyamityoobora Ward in Mbarara City; and Ssekilanda, who was driving the vehicle.
Byamukama said the vehicle and the animals were impounded and taken to Bwizibwera Police Station as investigations continue.
“The suspects were arrested and the vehicle together with the suspected stolen cattle were impounded. The animals are currently being held at Bwizibwera Police Station as investigations proceed,” he added.
In a separate but related incident, police also intercepted a motorcycle, registration number UEL 128A, that was carrying a large polythene bag containing four goat carcasses.
However, the two individuals transporting the motorcycle fled the scene before they could be apprehended.
“The two suspects abandoned the motorcycle and fled before they could be apprehended, leaving behind four goat carcasses in a polythene bag. The motorcycle was impounded and the carcasses recovered,” Byamukama said.
Police said the recovered goat carcasses and the impounded motorcycle are currently being kept at Bwizibwera Central Police Station as investigations continue to trace the suspects who escaped.
The arrests come just a day after leaders in Ibanda District convened a security meeting attended by sub-county and town council chairpersons, as well as officers in charge of police stations, to discuss strategies aimed at curbing rising cases of livestock theft.
Authorities have recently raised concern over the increasing cases of cattle and goat theft, which have continued to affect farmers in several rural communities in the region.
