Iganga District Police Commander SSP Patrick Byaruhanga (R) interacting with new Busoga East RPC, ACP Norman Musinga (L) during the meeting
Iganga, (UG):- The new Regional Police Commander (RPC) for Busoga East, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Norman Musinga has pledged to tirelessly fight and end animal theft in the region.
ACP Musinga who was recently transferred to the region says he is very familiar with all kinds of tactics used by animal thieves, and that this has given him the ability to clean related crimes wherever he happens to serve.
Mr. was on Wednesday speaking in a security meeting at Namundudi village, Nakalama Sub County in Iganga district where he was invited together with other officers to pave ways on how to end the escalating incidents of animal theft and other cases in Nakalama.
The security team was invited by the LC3 chairperson for Nakalama Sub County Mr. Kawanguzi Hamidu Ssalongo after realizing escalating cases of animal theft and other kinds of crimes in the area which were beyond management by the local council offices and other local leaders.
“Those who know me, I am not a friend to criminals, especially these animal thieves I keep hearing about in this region. If you are one of them please reform before an iron hand of the law catches you. I know more than the tactics used by animal thieves, including slaughtering and taking to the abattoirs as well as transporting the animals in the vehicles,” ACP Musinga said.
He asked locals to work with police and identify people involved in criminal acts, saying Busoga East region will be a good place in one month when all kinds of animal theft are erased. He said it is not good to give stamps to stolen meat and warned those involved in such unlawful practices.
“Just get a pen and hide somewhere and write for me those people involved in stealing goats and cows. You know them because they stay with you and I want to tell you Nakalama will be a model Sub County to others in this district and others in the country, so just give it only one month,” ACP Musinga promised.
The Resident District Commissioner Iganga district Hajj Wandera Sadala said ever since he was posted to Iganga, they have worked closely as security to ensure cases of animal theft are eliminated in the district by establishing methods to tame the would-be culprits. He blamed parents for grooming children in theft, saying some parents eat stolen things brought from their children.
“After realizing more cases of animal theft and other cases, we teamed up from police to court by ensuring that there is no police bond or court bail to anyone charged with animal theft and this saw a reduction in these cases but it is unfortunate that cases are again escalating. However, I trust our new RPC and together we shall deliver,” RDC Wandera said in the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the District Police Commander (DPC) for Iganga SSP Byaruhanga Patrick who reported to the RPC that there is a challenge of the highway where some animals are stolen and ferried out of the region. He quoted an incident where two cows were recovered from a Toyota Prado after getting into an accident in Namutumba district.
He accused the LC1 leadership in some villages of cordoning off thieves with hope that they could solve matters without police involvement. Mr. Byaruhanga, however, advised parents to educate their children saying it is another way of fighting crimes in the community.
The chairperson Nakalama Sub County Mr. Kawanguzi Hamidu told Daily Express that over 40 cows were stolen within a period of three months and it is worse on the side of goats. Kawanguzi said some locals had lost hope to report cases of animals to police.
“Some cases go unreported because many people end up losing hope but now people have been assured that cases of animal theft will be eliminated given the fact that police have come on ground,” Kawanguzi said before asking people to avoid mob justice but instead report cases to police for lawful action.
The critical security meeting was attended by a number of security personnel in Iganga district, Deputy RDC Iganga Mr. Kato Dauda, local leaders, among others.
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