Kyotera Police: Issa Walugembe Arrested Over Stolen Cows

• Police in Kyotera District recovered 10 suspected stolen cows during an intelligence-led operation on August 11, 2026.
• A 38-year-old businessman, Issa Walugembe, has been linked to the alleged cattle theft and is being investigated alongside other suspects.
• Ugandan security agencies are intensifying efforts to combat cattle theft and smuggling, with joint military operations targeting cattle believed to have been smuggled across international boundaries.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the recovered animals were stolen from villages in Bukunda Sub-county and may have been slaughtered or moved to neighboring districts.

Security agencies in Uganda have intensified operations against cattle theft, a growing concern in several parts of the country. The recovery of 10 suspected stolen cows by police in Kyotera District is one such effort to combat the rising trend of livestock theft. Preliminary investigations suggest that the recovered animals were stolen from villages in Bukunda Sub-county and may have been slaughtered or moved to neighboring districts.

The operation, which took place on August 11, 2026, was an intelligence-led effort aimed at disrupting networks involved in cattle theft and smuggling. The police are working to establish ownership of the recovered animals and trace their origin.

A 38-year-old businessman, Issa Walugembe, has been linked to the alleged cattle theft. He is being investigated alongside other suspects who are still at large. According to police, investigations indicate that the suspects may be operating a wider network involved in stealing and moving cattle across different locations.

Walugembe, a resident of Kijumbula Village, Lwamba Parish, Kirumba Sub-county, has been identified as one of the key figures in the alleged theft. The police are working to gather more evidence and identify other individuals involved in the operation.

The recovery of the suspected stolen cows is part of a broader effort by Ugandan security agencies to combat cattle theft and smuggling. Joint military operations involving the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and Uganda's Defense Intelligence and Security (DIS) have been launched to target cattle believed to have been smuggled across international boundaries.

The government has also stepped up efforts to protect livestock in affected areas, with communities calling for stronger intervention to address the issue. The growing concern over cattle theft is a major challenge facing farmers and herders in several parts of Uganda.

Lawyers advising clients on livestock security should note the increasing efforts by Ugandan security agencies to combat cattle theft and smuggling, which may impact their clients' operations and compliance obligations.

Source: Original reporting via Nile Post