Police accused of aiding cattle theft in Buliisa

Buliisa: Pastoralists in Buliisa district, Western Uganda are accusing local police of colluding with cattle thieves.

This concern was voiced on Friday during a community meeting in Kigoya Village chaired by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), where cattle keepers expressed frustration over frequent cattle thefts and alleged police complicity.

Simon Muhinya, a local pastoralist, claimed that suspects are often released soon after arrest, suggesting possible police involvement in their release.

Another pastoralist, Steven Kaitare, echoed these concerns, stating that even after reporting theft cases, suspects are seen freely moving around the village shortly afterward, which undermines their trust in law enforcement.

Sebasoka Stephen also voiced dissatisfaction, feeling that the police have not been supportive in recovering lost cattle, which has fueled the perception that police officers might be aiding the thefts.

‘’Recently I lost five heads of cattle, we have enough soldiers, why can’t they be deployed to ensure the vice is curbed, most of them manning the lake over illegal fishing, but we are suffering,’’ he streed.

John Mwahule, the District Police Commander (DPC) of Buliisa, has denied the allegations that police are involved in aiding cattle theft.

He urged pastoralists to work collaboratively with law enforcement to tackle the issue, noting that, in some cases, suspects are released by the courts on bail rather than by police action.

Mwahule emphasized that partnership with the community is essential to curb cattle theft effectively.

Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Longino Byagagaire Bahebwa advised pastoralists to maintain accurate counts of their livestock to help track stolen animals more effectively.

He also assured them that roadblocks would be regularly set up along the Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko road to monitor vehicles leaving the district as an added measure to prevent cattle theft.

‘’This strategy aims to strengthen security measures in Buliisa District and address the community’s concerns about cattle theft,’’ he noted.

Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police Spokesperson, recently acknowledged a rise in cattle theft cases in the region.

He advised cattle farmers to ensure they have thorough records or identifying details of their cattle keepers, which could aid in tracing missing animals and preventing theft.

‘’This aligns with efforts to strengthen security for pastoralists by making it easier to identify suspects and track stolen cattle,’’ he noted.

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