A mob has torched a Toyota Corolla vehicle registration number UAH 799A belonging to suspected cattle thieves. The incident occurred at around 2 am Wednesday morning in Nyarugabu cell in Kiduuma ward in Hoima City West Division. The suspected thugs, who were five in number, reportedly raided Nyarugabu cell in Hoima city in an attempt to steal cattle.
They parked their vehicles at Nyarugabu swamp for several hours, which raised suspicion among the residents. They mobilized and stormed the swamp where the suspected thugs had parked the two vehicles to establish their mission.
When the residents approached the occupants of the vehicles to find out what they were doing in the area, they immediately took off in one of the vehicles at a terrible speed abandoning the corolla behind. The charged residents decided to set the vehicle ablaze.
Daison Tumwesigye, the Nyarugabu cell LC I Chairperson told this publication that cattle theft has become rampant in the area, saying more than five cows have been stolen within one week alone. He says that residents recovered several ropes from the burnt car, an indication that the thugs had invaded the area to steal cows.
Jackson Aliganyira, a resident says they are compelled to sleep out in the cold to guard their animals against theft. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson has confirmed the incident and applauded the locals for the high levels of vigilance exhibited.
He however cautioned the residents against taking the law into their hands. Police towed the wreckage of the burnt vehicle to Nyarugabu police post. In September, Police arrested 19 cattle thieves believed to have been terrorizing cattle farmers in the region.
The suspects were detained at various police stations across the region including Masindi, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kiryandongo, Kikuube, Kibaale, and Buliisa among others. They were reportedly arrested during an operation mounted by both the police and the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces-UPDF. Security agencies were compelled to launch the operation following a public outcry about the rampant cattle thefts.
