Four nabbed as police crackdown on cattle theft in Savannah, Albertine North regions
He added that one of the suspects is a resident of Nakasongola District who had been hiding in Masindi.
Masindi: Police in the Albertine North Region, in collaboration with their counterparts from the Savannah Region, have arrested four suspected cattle thieves in Masindi District.
The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation launched last Wednesday following public concern over increasing cases of cattle theft in the two regions.
The suspects are currently detained in Masindi and Nakasongola districts as investigations continue.
Solomon Mugisa, the Albertine North Regional Community Liaison Officer and Acting Regional Police Spokesperson, said the two police regions joined forces after receiving reports of increased cattle theft.
Mugisa said some of the suspected thieves steal cattle, slaughter them and mix the meat with stamped beef before selling it through different outlets, including markets.
He said police had not disclosed the identities of the suspects to avoid jeopardising ongoing investigations, adding that more suspects were being hunted. “The operation commenced on Wednesday last week and led to the arrest of two suspects. The third suspect was arrested on Friday, while the fourth was arrested on Saturday night,” Mugisa said.
He added that one of the suspects is a resident of Nakasongola District who had been hiding in Masindi.
He said some cattle are stolen from Masindi and sold in Nakasongola, while others are stolen in Nakasongola and moved to Masindi.
“We are working closely to curb cattle theft cases in the two regions,” he said.
Mugisa appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing information about suspected cattle thieves.
“We shall not leave any stone unturned. We shall ensure that all thieves terrorising residents are apprehended and brought to book,” he said.
He said the suspects arrested are aged between 30 and 40 years and urged young people to engage in productive activities instead of resorting to crime.
Mugisa encouraged the youth to embrace government programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Police in Hoima City have arrested a suspect found in possession of a cow suspected to have been stolen and slaughtered.
The suspect was arrested on 11th August 2026, in Kiryatete, a suburb of Hoima City, during an intelligence-led operation by the Flying Squad Unit.
SP Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine South Region Police spokesperson says the operation was targeting people suspected of dealing in stolen livestock.
Hakiza says the suspect told police that the cow had been stolen from Kyankwanzi District.
Police are now working with their counterparts in Kyankwanzi District to verify the claim and establish the rightful owner of the animal.
Hakiza says the suspect and the recovered exhibits are being held at Hoima Central Police Station as investigations continue.
Police have thanked members of the public for providing information that led to the operation.
They are also warning livestock dealers, butchers and other members of the public against buying animals or meat whose origin is suspicious.
Police have withheld the identity of the suspect to avoid jeopardizing ongoing investigations.
Earlier cattle theft and poaching arrest
The latest arrests come months after police, in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), arrested a suspected cattle thief and poacher in Masindi District.
Ogeng was suspected of being part of a criminal gang allegedly involved in stealing cattle in Kimengo Sub-county and illegally hunting wild animals using a firearm before selling the meat at Kafu Junction and Kibbanja Trading Centre.
Police said several exhibits were recovered from his home, including suspected cow meat, smoked wild animal meat, animal skins, hunting tools and opium.
He appealed to residents who may have lost cattle through theft to cooperate with investigators and testify against suspects to help secure convictions in court.
Meanwhile, Wilson Kagoro, a Conservation Officer with UWA attached to Murchison Falls National Park, warned residents against engaging in illegal activities such as poaching and unauthorised fishing within protected areas.
Kagoro said such activities threaten wildlife conservation and undermine efforts to protect the Ramsar site for future generations.
“We don’t allow illegal activities including hunting and fishing in the protected area so that the Ramsar site is not degraded,” he said.
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