It has emerged that a big number of Kampalans are being sold meat from stolen cattle and other animals.
An operations carried out by Directorate of Crime Intelligence- DCI team has shown gangs are stealing cattle from various parts of Uganda and selling them to unsuspecting buyers in Kampala and its neighborhood.
DCI carried out an operation in Katwe after receiving intelligence information that a gang had raided among other districts Hoima, Mityana, and Kyakwanzi but had supplied the meat in Kampala.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson who quoted DCI report said criminals steal and slaughter cattle whose beef they eventually supply to different butchers, hotels and restaurants around Kampala.
Although the first incident was committed on December 4 in Hoima, Kyankwanzi and Mityana, the cattle theft gang carried out another robbery on December 07 this year in Busunju where they stole 12 cattle. “They slaughtered eight of them and kept the remaining four in an identified premises in Bujuuko. On 09/12 /2022, the same gang raided Busuuju but were intercepted by angry mob which burnt their vehicle and rescued/recovered the cattle they had stolen,” DCI said in a report shared by SSP Onyango.
DCI yesterday carried out an operation targeting the serial cattle thieves where arrested one Seidi Deo 37, a resident of Luvuba village Mpingi parish, Muduma Sub county Mpigi district.
“Upon interogations, he confessed to having been involved in various cattle thefts and narrated that on December 12, they raided residents of Busuuju But the locals ganged up and burnt their vehicle while they were loading cows.
“He revealed that one Kimera Francis 34, in order to cover up charges went to Jeza oolice station and reported theft of motor vehicle registration number UBB 891Y,” DCI said.
Police say the matter was investigated and Kimera together with other criminals agreed to settle or compensate the car owner with Shs 16 million,” Onyango said.
DCI proceeded to the residence of one Ivan where they recovered five cows which had been stolen from Busuuju. “The suspects and five cows have been handed over to Jeza Police station.
Operations against this criminal gang is still ongoing,” SSP Onyango said.