Nagalama, Uganda – May 14, 2025
A high-speed police operation in Nagalama led to the death of two suspected cattle thieves and the recovery of three stolen cows in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
At around 3:00 AM, officers on patrol spotted a suspicious white Toyota Prado TX (registration UAZ 797G) driving through Kalagi Trading Centre along Gayaza Road. When flagged to stop, the vehicle sped off, prompting a police pursuit.
According to ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Kampala Metropolitan Police, officers noticed irregular movement in the vehicle, triggering suspicion of criminal activity.
“The suspects’ attempt to flee confirmed our concerns,” Owoyesigyire said.
The chase ended in Nakasajja Trading Centre, where police managed to intercept the Prado. Two of the suspects escaped on foot. The remaining two sustained injuries during the confrontation and were declared dead en route to the hospital.
Police recovered three head of cattle hidden inside the vehicle. Efforts are underway to identify both the animals’ rightful owners and the deceased suspects, whose bodies have been taken to the City Mortuary for a postmortem.
Authorities believe the suspects were transporting the livestock for illegal sale, reflecting a troubling trend in cattle theft across Uganda’s rural regions.
“This is part of an ongoing increase in livestock theft,” Owoyesigyire added, “and we suspect the vehicle was being used to smuggle stolen cattle to market.”
Cattle theft continues to impact Uganda’s farming communities, where livestock is both an economic and cultural asset. According to the 2024 Annual Crime Report, general crime declined by 4.1%, but stock theft still posed a challenge despite a 14% drop in reported cattle theft cases.
The Anti-Stock Theft Unit has increased patrols and crackdowns, particularly in Uganda’s cattle corridor, to combat organized livestock crime.
Investigations into the Nagalama incident are ongoing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NWR0B4Udik
