The Government has announced an intensified crackdown on cattle theft in the Greater Mbarara region, directing Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and the Uganda Police Force to treat livestock theft as a top security priority amid rising cases affecting farmers and household incomes.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Wednesday evening, the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, said cattle theft in the region had reached “alarming proportions” and was now undermining Government’s wealth creation and poverty alleviation agenda.
She emphasized that livestock remains the backbone of the Ankole sub-region and much of western Uganda, representing years of investment, family wealth, and economic survival for many households.
“The theft is therefore not merely a criminal offence against individual farmers; it is also a direct attack on Government’s wealth creation agenda and our national mission of lifting Ugandans out of poverty,” Babalanda said.
The Minister expressed concern that some of the stolen cattle were purchased using funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that such crimes directly frustrate Government efforts to transform livelihoods at the grassroots level.
“When criminals steal such livestock, they are sabotaging one of Government’s flagship socio-economic transformation programmes and frustrating the efforts of hardworking Ugandans,” she added.
In her directive, Babalanda instructed all RDCs, RCCs, District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), and district security committees across Greater Mbarara to elevate cattle theft to the same level of urgency as other organised crimes.
She further tasked the Uganda Police Force to step up intelligence-led operations, increase patrols, strengthen investigations, and dismantle criminal syndicates behind the thefts. The Uganda Police Force was also urged to enhance coordination across districts to track and recover stolen animals.
The Minister commended the Mbarara RDC, Mr. Nicholas Nuwagira, the District Police Commander, and the district security team for recent progress, noting that coordinated operations had already led to the arrest of more than twenty suspects linked to organised livestock theft networks.
Government investigations indicate that stolen cattle are often transported and sold in districts such as Mitooma and Kasese, while others are smuggled across borders into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
To address this, Babalanda directed authorities in Mitooma and Kasese to strengthen enforcement of livestock movement controls, insisting that no animal should be transported or traded without proper movement permits and verified ownership documents. She also ordered tighter inspections at livestock markets, checkpoints, and key transport corridors.
She further reminded security commanders to fully deploy motorcycles supplied by Government to improve mobility, surveillance, and rapid response in rural farming communities.
Babalanda also urged cattle keepers to reinforce kraal security, properly identify their animals, and report suspicious movements promptly. She called on local leaders, including LC I and LC III chairpersons, parish chiefs, Gombolola Internal Security Officers, and community security committees, to intensify neighborhood vigilance.
“Security is a shared responsibility. Many of these criminals are known within the communities where they live or conduct business,” she said, warning that anyone found to be harbouring, financing, transporting, or purchasing stolen cattle would face the full force of the law.
She assured farmers that Government is implementing a coordinated response aimed at dismantling theft networks, recovering stolen livestock where possible, and ensuring successful prosecution of offenders.
“We cannot achieve the goals of the Parish Development Model, commercial agriculture and household wealth creation if criminals are allowed to rob citizens of the very assets Government has helped them acquire,” she said.
Babalanda reaffirmed Government’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and investments, expressing confidence that joint efforts between security agencies and communities will curb the vice and restore confidence among livestock farmers in western Uganda.
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