President Yoweri Museveni who has spent his fifth day in pursuit of peace in the Eastern and Northern regions following the re-emergence of cattle rustling is taking drastic measures to handle the crime that is mutating daily and threatening to wipe out gains made in security and development in the 9 districts of Karamoja and the neighbouring Eastern and Northern regions.
“It seems that the ghost of stealing has remained with the Karimojong. We are changing the commanders in the area because I think some have been colluding with the rustlers to heighten the problem,” he said.
During the security briefing ahead of the meeting with the Acholi and Lango leaders, President Museveni was informed that the cattle rustling had turned commercial with rustlers collaborating with other actors including security operatives to sell animals that have been rustled. The issue of cattle thefts, especially in the Acholi region was also on the rise, and according to reports, the Police canine unit has been vital in fighting the vice but is limited.
“Whether day or night, we are going to end this cattle rustling. There is something the Police have not exploited, the canine unit for cattle thefts. I can see why some government programmes don’t perform. When seniors don’t supervise, what do you expect,” he said referring to reports that the region has only one canine unit and that requests to Police headquarters to beef it up to have remained unanswered.
President Museveni later announced various stringent measures designed to end, once and for all, the indiscipline of cattle rustling in the country including installing more CCTV cameras at choke points including at Karuma, Paara and Masindi Port Ferry to monitor cows being moved from the North to the South and in the region and the use of digital markings of all vehicles that will be centrally monitored.
“I can assure you, that by combining these ancient and modern methods, we are going to end cattle rustling. A cattle rustler will see a gun but not touch it,” he vowed.
President Museveni who has been on a fact-finding mission and assessment of the security situation in the districts bordering the Karamoja region affected by the cattle rustling was yesterday meeting leaders of Lango and Acholi sub-regions at Baralege State Lodge in Otuke County – Otuke district.
Those in attendance included the Vice President Rtd. Major Jessica Alupo and the Secretary-General of NRM Hon. Richard Todwong.
Others were cabinet ministers from the 2 regions of Lango and Acholi, Members of Parliament, RDCs and RCCs and Religious leaders among others.
President Museveni said the measures will allow soldiers who are in operations to apprehend wrong characters found in possession of firearms, bows and arrows, sticks for driving the animals or those suspected to be involved in cattle rustling. He said the use of police canines would also be intensified.
President Museveni urged Ugandans to cultivate a culture of peace for economic transformation.
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