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As the festive season approaches, livestock theft is on the rise in Uganda, with criminals becoming more brazen and inventive in their tactics.
According to Uganda Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke, recent operations in districts like Luwero, Nakasongola, and Nakaseke have exposed the scale of the crime and the sophisticated methods used by thieves to evade detection.
Fake Permits and Modified Vehicles
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Rusoke revealed that livestock thieves are increasingly resorting to fake animal permits and forged number plates on vehicles to transport stolen animals.
The criminals have also ditched trucks and opted for smaller cars such as Premio, Wish, and Ipsum models to transport the animals.
In some cases, the animals are slaughtered in remote bushes, and the meat is transported in the car boots to avoid suspicion.
For the more daring criminals, even live animals are crammed into these small vehicles.
"Some use tinted vehicles and squeeze an entire cow into the back seats of a saloon car. To the public, if you see horns in the backseat of a car, alert us," Rusoke warned.
Challenges in Combating Livestock Theft
The police operations have recovered 352 of the 461 stolen animals and resulted in the arrest of 54 suspects, in the three districts.
There however remain hurdles in addressing this crime.
Many of the arrested suspects are repeat offenders who quickly return to criminal activities after being released on bail.
Additionally, the practice of out-of-court settlements undermines police efforts.
"When complainants negotiate compensation with suspects and withdraw their cases, it becomes impossible for us to pursue justice," Rusoke lamented.
He urged the public to refrain from settling cases outside the legal system, as this inadvertently encourages the crime to thrive.
Police Appeal for Public Vigilance
The operations were signed off by the Inspector General of Police to curb livestock theft, particularly in affected regions.
Rusoke called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.