Five cattle thieves have survived being lynched and burned to death after they were found with two stolen cows in a car in Luweero district.
This incident happened in the wee hours of Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in Kasenene village, Bamunanika sub-county, when hunters intercepted a Toyota Ipsum that was carrying these two stolen cows.
According to the LC I Chairperson of Kasenene village, Juma Kagulire, the hunters were coming back from hunting when they intercepted the Toyota Ipsum car registration number UAM 636B after they suspected it to be carrying stolen cattle.
Kagulire added that when the hunters asked these thieves where they were heading, they attempted to attack them, prompting them to raise an alarm, which awoke the locals and came to their rescue, but the thugs escaped.
“When these five criminals saw that things had gotten out of hand, they escaped and left behind their car, their loot, and the machetes they had with them,’’ Kagulire reported.
He added that after the locals failed to catch the thieves, they transferred all of their aggression to the thugs’ car and burned it down to ashes.
In an interview with journalists on October 29, 2024, ASP Sam Twiinamazima, the Savannah Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and revealed that the stolen cows were taken to Bamunanika Police Station as exhibits to aid in police investigations.
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Twiineamazima also cautioned the public against mob justice because they always erase evidence that can aid in police investigations and also kill innocent people.
’’Police are going to use this car number plate to find out who the owner is and then investigate where the two cows were stolen from so that they are given back to the owner,” he said.
In 2024, Luweero district has experienced a troubling rise in cattle thefts, causing significant distress among local farmers.
In July 2024, residents in Koojo village took matters into their own hands by torching two vehicles suspected to be involved in cattle theft. This incident occurred when locals noticed unfamiliar vehicles near their house during the night.
