Ten arrested, 32 cows recovered in Teso
Police said some of the suspects, who have a history of crime and are on intelligence watch lists, had been using small vehicles such as Noah, Ipsum, and Premio to transport stolen cattle across the Teso and Bukedi sub-regions.
Kumi DPC Joan Judth Akello showing the press some of the cows recovered. (Photos by Godfrey Ojore)
By Godfrey Ojore
Journalists @New Vision
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A joint security operation in the Teso sub-region has led to the arrest of ten people suspected of cattle theft.
The operation, involving Crime Intelligence and the Flying Squad, followed a spate of thefts in Atutur and Mukongoro sub-counties, Kumi District, on Monday, 8 September.
Conducted across Kumi, Bukedea, and Soroti districts, the operation resulted in the arrest of ten key suspects and the recovery of 32 stolen cows. The animals are currently secured at Kumi Government Prison pending verification and handover.
Police said some of the suspects, who have a history of crime and are on intelligence watch lists, had been using small vehicles such as Noah, Ipsum, and Premio to transport stolen cattle across the Teso and Bukedi sub-regions.
Case references include CRB 514/2025 (Kumi CPS) and links to CRB 331/2024 (East Kyoga).
The suspected cattle thugs in Teso being paraded by the police in Kumi town.
Regional police commander South Kyoga, David Katunda, noted that the suspects had confessed to being involved in cattle theft.
He identified 45-year-old Samuel Oloit from Bukedea as the ringleader, who worked with 51-year-old Paul Etiang from Bukedea Town Council, whose role was to source markets.
“I have worked with Etiang for over three years now, and we have stolen cows from different parts of Teso,” Oloit confessed before the press on Tuesday when the suspects were paraded.
The suspects are currently being held at Kumi Police Station and are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
The operation “has significantly disrupted organised cattle theft networks in Teso,” observed RPC Kyoga East, Ibrahim Siaga.
Some of the suspects in custody include Samuel Oloit, 45, Peter Osekeny, 25, Paul Etiang, 51, Bernard Odongo, 35, Nicholas Omasse, 18, Joseph Osekeny, 38, Martine Iboliat, 41, and Bob Arimo, 27.
Assistant RDC Bukedea, Arafat Oyo, condemned the crime and commended police for apprehending the suspects.
LC5 Kumi, Nelson Akol, urged the judiciary not to give lenient sentences to those convicted of cattle theft.