Ugandan police arrest three for livestock theft and meat trafficking

Police in Mbarara City, Uganda, working alongside the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), have arrested three individuals suspected of stealing and slaughtering livestock for illegal sale. The suspects, including a Congolese national, were intercepted in Kiruhura District while transporting the carcasses of 39 cattle and 10 goats in two vehicles.

Authorities stated the meat was being moved toward the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Some of the recovered carcasses had begun to rot. Mbarara City Animal and Husbandry Officer, Dr. Brian Ainomugisha, noted that the meat posed significant health risks due to the lack of veterinary inspection and the potential presence of zoonotic diseases. The meat is slated for disposal.