The Territorial Police in Greater Bushenyi and Sheema districts have in custody five suspects who form part of a criminal gang and are actively involved in the rampant thefts of cattle in Sheema district from June to August.
According to SCP Fred Enanga, the spokesperson of police, the criminal gang has been behind the increased surge of cattle theft using Salon cars, particularly the Premio Model.
“The criminal gang has been behind the surge in incidents of cattle theft using Salon cars, particularly the Premio Model. The task team tracked down a Premio motor vehicle under registration number UBA 009Z after it was captured on CCTV cameras transporting suspected stolen cattle from Sheema to Mbarara. It was impounded in Mbarara City, and its occupants were arrested. A second motor vehicle, Premio, under registration number UAR 362I, was also impounded,” Enanga stated.
SCP Enanga identified the suspects as Allan Byampangi, alias Mukiga, a 33-year-old mechanic of Kayole cell, Katenga parish, Kabale district; Alex Mwesigwa Abasa, alias Byensi Mark, a 50-year-old driver of Kabwohe Town “B” cell, Sheema district; Abasi Ssemanda, a 50-year-old businessman of Kashenyi cell, Birere sub-county, Isingiro district; Zubair Wasswa, alias Kadede, a 40-year-old special hire driver of Katete cell, Mbarara City; and Peter Tashobya, a 39-year-old businessman of Kakorogoto cell, Sheema district.
According to Enanga, the gang has been selling the stolen cows to dealers in Mbarara City at cheaper prices. They also stole cattle from the districts of Ibanda, Ntungamo, Kiruhura, Rwampara, and Kabale.
However, even though so far five suspects have been arrested, two motor vehicles, and one cow recovered from Zubair Wasswa, efforts are still in place to trace the ring leader and other stolen cows or the proceeds of the sale.
The criminal outfit’s arrest serves as a testament to the police and its sister security organisations’ shared determination to dismantle and disrupt all criminal gangs operating in the nation.