Five Suspects Arrested For Stealing Cows From State House Farm

Police have detained five suspects in connection with cattle theft at the State House farm in Kirasi, Gomba district.

Fred Enanga, the Uganda Police Spokesperson, revealed during a media briefing at the police headquarters in Naguru that the Flying Squad Unit, in collaboration with territorial teams from the Katonga region and Gomba CPS, successfully apprehended the suspects involved in the recurring theft of cattle from the State House farm.

Enanga stated, “We have five suspects in custody for the cattle thefts at the State House farm in Kirasi, Gomba. The Flying Squad Unit, in coordination with our territorial teams in the Katonga region and Gomba CPS, arrested these five suspects who are closely linked to the ongoing theft of cattle from the farm.”

The operation, driven by intelligence, resulted in the arrest of the suspects after five cows had been reported missing. “We launched an intelligence-led operation starting on March 29th after the disappearance of five cows from Kirasi. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the cows were suspicious, prompting us to deploy a team from the Flying Squad unit at the Crime Intelligence Headquarters,” Enanga explained.

One of the suspects, identified as Robert Nyazi, a cattle dealer, was discovered to be involved in purchasing stolen cattle from the farm. Enanga disclosed that Nyazi’s arrest led to the identification and apprehension of four other cattle dealers, including Frank Ariho, a 29-year-old dealer from Kirasi.

The police revealed that the arrested individuals collaborated with farm workers. “Among those apprehended are Tumusime Gordon, also a cattle dealer, as well as Tatureka Fred, Kanyenzibuli, 35, from Kajumero village, and Gumisiriza Godfrey, a businessman from Kajumero. These individuals were accomplices who conspired with some of the farm workers,” the police stated.

In addition to the arrests, the police indicated that they are pursuing other suspects, including Wilson Bazebogera, a 40-year-old veterinary officer assigned to the farm, and Ronald Kirimunte, a cattle dealer from Kyamabale.

Numerous incidents of cattle theft have been documented in Gomba district, including instances involving theft from President Museveni’s farm at Kisozi. In September 2016, three individuals, one of whom was an employee at the farm, were apprehended for stealing cows from the President’s farm.

However, cattle theft is not confined to the President’s farm; it remains a significant issue in the region, with thieves targeting one or two cows, slaughtering them near the crime scene, and then selling the meat in urban areas such as Kampala.