Police in Mbarara have arrested three suspects accused of stealing and slaughtering 39 cows and 10 goats and transporting the meat to Kasese and Congo for sale.
According to the Mbarara DPC, SP Keneth Kabwigo, the suspects including Steven Bazara, 62, a Congolese, Peter Mutesasira, 40, from Nyendo, and John Mary Muhindo, 50, from Kasese, were intercepted in their box-body cars.
He said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged accordingly.
“They say they got these cows from Sanga transporting them to Kasese and Congo. We don’t know where exactly they got these cows from and we don’t know the intention because they are transporting meat illegally,” he said.
Dr Brian Ainomugisha, the Mbarara City Veterinary Officer, said transporting meat that is not well inspected puts people’s lives at risk.
“I have done a postmortem examination to confirm and I am taking some samples to the laboratory for further diagnosis, the suspects have been putting people’s health at risk, these people should be charged accordingly, I advise people out there to always report such cases,” he said.