KIKUUBE, May 19, 2024 – Members of the Kikuube district security committee have petitioned the newly appointed Inspector General of Police [IGP], Abas Byagaba, seeking deployment of officers of the Police Anti-stock Theft Unit in the district to curb the increasing theft of livestock.
According to Amlan Tumusiime, the District Resident Commissioner [RDC] Kikuube who also doubles as Chairperson of the district security committee, the theft of livestock has left farmers experiencing sleepless nights.
Tumusiime noted that because of the increasing theft of livestock in the district, some farmers have decided to keep some animals like goats and sheep in their houses during the night, something he said poses health risks to the humans.
He noted that Kikuube district had Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit based in Buhimba Sub-county but was withdrawn some few years ago, giving a leeway to the theft of cows, goats, and sheep among others.
He noted that last year the Kikuube district security committee wrote and petitioned the former IGP Martin Okoth-Ochola who retired early this year, seeking the deployment of the police officers but are still waiting for the response from the police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala.
“I petitioned the IGP to reinstate this unit because some of our leaders in district ready offered a house to accommodate the police officers,” he added demanding for immediate intervention.
The RDC noted that livestock theft could push some farmers into poverty since keeping animals is their only viable source of income. “Our people are hardworking, they are engaged in rearing of cows, goat, sheep, pigs and poultry but the increasing theft of these animals is pushing them out of business, he said.
James Mutumgi one of livestock farmers Kabwoya Sub-county said he now spend nights outside to guard his animals.
He said that farmers sometimes arrest the cattle thieves but police release them, something he said needs to be looked into by the authorities.
On his part, the Kyangwali Sub-county LCIII Chairperson, Emanuel Bisemeza said that his office receives at lease five cases of animal thefts every month, saying this crime must fought if the farmers in his areas are to create wealth for their families.
He attributed insecurity in the subcounty to an inadequate police officers, stating that the subcounty has a population of about 250, 000 only has five police posts manned by a few officers who cannot carry out night patrols.
“There is a need for immediate intervention to arrest the criminals to save the farmers,” he said, adding he recently petitioned the Kikuube district leaders but no interventions have been made to curb the livestock theft in the area.
https://thecooperator.news/livestock-farmers-to-pay-for-fmd-vaccines/
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