Eighteen cattle traders are in custody at Kabale Police Station following their arrest in connection with an illicit cattle deal involving livestock smuggled from Rwanda.
The suspects were apprehended early Monday morning in Nyakijumba, Southern Division, Kabale Municipality, along the Kabale-Mbarara highway. They were found transporting 38 cattle from the border sub-counties of Rubaya, Butanda, and Ryakarimira Town Council.
Those detained include Tumuhimbise Francis, Mwetise Francis, Tugumisirize Edson, Ekyarakole Odua, Ormwikiriza Esau, Musinguzi Innocent, Byomuhwezi John, Tugume Robert, Turyahabwe James, Katungi Moses, Ankankwasa Leo, Plan Alfa, Ngabirano Innocent, Maniraguha Patrick, Tukwantise Gordon, Ayambe Abias, Tumwwbaze Alex, and Twahibwa Lauben.
The suspects were transporting the animals in four trucks with registration numbers UAU 737N, UBA 659, UBD 905Q, and UBB 613U. Upon interception by the police, the traders were unable to present clearance documents from the District Veterinary Officer. Further investigation revealed that some of the cattle had tags indicating they were of Rwandan origin, which the traders could not account for.
According to some of the suspects, they were transporting the cattle to Kasese for sale. Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, stated that the animals were moved to a government farm in Kamuganguzi Sub County on Tuesday evening, where they will remain impounded until further notice.
Maate added that since the traders could not produce valid documentation for the cattle, they will be charged in court once investigations are complete.
This incident follows a similar crackdown in October 2021, when Kabale district security authorities uncovered a racket involving local leaders along the border.
These leaders were allegedly clearing smuggled cattle from Rwanda for a fee of UGX 50,000 per animal, enabling their transport and sale in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Authorities have also been investigating how profits from the illegal livestock trade are being funneled back into Uganda to potentially fund subversive activities, raising national security concerns.
