CATTLE THEFT SUSPECTS NABBED AFTER CLASH WITH COMMUNITY

The 11 herds of cattle recovered from the suspects after the violent confrontation now at Onduparaka police station. Photo by Morish Dramadri.

By Morish Dramadri

Arua city

Three suspects are in police custody at Ayivu West Division in Arua City following a violent cattle theft incident that left at least six people seriously injured and admitted at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.

The suspects are accused of stealing 12 cows during a Wednesday night raid in Mangasaba, Ayivu Division. According to information from reliable sources, the group managed to drive away the animals before being intercepted near Urugbo Primary School by a joint group of residents, including the cattle owners and community members who had trailed them from the DR Congo border.

However, what began as a recovery effort quickly turned violent when the suspects allegedly attacked the pursuers using pangas and stones, leaving several with deep cuts and head injuries.

Bayo Camilo, one of the victims, recounted the terrifying ordeal, “When we reached Urugbo, people from Congo told us the thieves had reached Andelizu. When we met them, they started accusing us of being thieves. Even after explaining ourselves, they attacked us with stones and pangas. We ran for our lives until police came in the morning.”

The owner of the cattle, James Asua, confirmed that 11 of the 12 stolen cows have since been recovered, with one still missing.

“I had kept the cattle at Robu near the DR Congo border. I got information they had been stolen, but we later recovered 11. When we found them tied at a home, some people guarding them turned against us, claiming we were thieves. We later reported the matter to Onduparaka Police at around 6am,” Asua explained.

In a dramatic twist, angry community members reportedly set ablaze the house of the alleged ringleader, identified only as “Kondo,” in an apparent act of mob justice.

The Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Ayivu Division, Mbigiti Godfrey Jona, inveterate the arrests and cautioned livestock traders against night movements, which he says expose them to criminal attacks.

“Our people in Mangasaba were attacked and 12 cows stolen. The prime suspect, known as ‘Kondo,’ is now in custody. We strongly warn livestock traders against moving animals at night,” he said.

Police have opened a case of cattle theft and assault under file number 07/23/04/2026 at Ayivu West Division, although an official police statement had not yet been released by press time.

This incident adds to a growing concern over rising livestock theft and cross-border crime in Arua City and the greater West Nile region. Recent police reports indicate an increase in cases of cattle rustling, particularly along porous border points between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with criminals exploiting weak night surveillance and informal trade routes.