Uganda launches crackdown on cattle theft in Bududa District

The campaign targets criminal networks and aims to safeguard household incomes and national wealth creation initiatives.

New Regulatory Controls in Bududa District

In Bududa, local leaders have introduced a series of mandatory requirements to disrupt the theft of livestock, a practice that has increasingly threatened the district’s growing beef industry. Bududa, a region long known for recurrent landslides, has emerged in recent years as a growing livestock hub, with cattle fattening becoming a key income-generating activity supported by government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM). However, district leaders warn that the rise in cattle theft is threatening to reverse these gains.

The new measures follow a collaborative meeting between the District Security Committee, the District Production Office, and the Bududa Cattle Traders Association. The agreed-upon enforcement measures include:

Licensing: No individual will be allowed to engage in cattle trading without a valid trading licence, as authorities warned that some criminals have been posing as livestock traders to facilitate theft.
Documentation: Livestock owners must present an introduction letter from their Local Council One chairperson confirming ownership before animals can be brought to market.
Inspection: All animals presented for slaughter must undergo inspection by veterinary officers, and carcasses must be stamped before meat is released for sale to consumers.

Bududa District Police Commander Banabas Banyenzaki confirmed that security forces have already deployed officers to livestock markets to ensure compliance. “We have mounted operations in the markets, and anyone found violating these resolutions will be apprehended,” Banyenzaki stated. Bududa District Vice Chairperson Gilbert Mushangu urged traders to comply with the regulations and strengthen their association, noting that organised groups are easier to regulate. District Councillor and Production Minister Alex Murami described the trend of stolen livestock as a serious threat to household livelihoods, while District Production Officer Felix Odongo called for closer cooperation between traders and enforcement agencies to improve traceability and disrupt criminal networks.

Regional Security Directives for Greater Mbarara

The government’s response extends beyond district-level measures, with the Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, issuing a directive to Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and district security agencies to intensify operations across the Greater Mbarara region. During a Wednesday evening briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the minister emphasized that livestock remains the backbone of the economy in Ankole and much of western Uganda. She noted that the theft of livestock—which often involves animals acquired through funds accessed under the PDM—directly undermines the government’s mission to alleviate poverty.

Gov't orders security crackdown on cattle theft

Regional Security Directives for Greater Mbarara — Photo: Nilepost

“Cattle theft is not merely a criminal offence against individual farmers. It is a direct attack on government’s wealth creation agenda and our national mission of lifting Ugandans out of poverty,” Babalanda said.

The minister directed RDCs, Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), and security committees to treat cattle theft as a top security priority. Her instructions include:

Intelligence-Led Operations: The Uganda Police Force must intensify patrols, strengthen investigations, and dismantle organised criminal networks.
Resource Utilization: Police commanders are instructed to fully utilise motorcycles procured by the government to enhance mobility, surveillance, and rapid response.
Strict Movement Controls: No animal should be transported or traded without proper movement permits and verified proof of ownership, with heightened inspections at markets and transport corridors.

Addressing Organized Criminal Networks

Minister Babalanda noted that government findings suggest stolen cattle are being sold within Uganda, particularly in the Mitooma and Kasese districts, while other animals are being smuggled across the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo. "The criminals involved are increasingly organised, and our response must be even more organised, coordinated and decisive," Babalanda stated.

In the Mbarara district, the minister commended Resident District Commissioner Nicholas Nuwagira, the District Police Commander, and the district security team for progress made in fighting the crime, noting that more than 20 suspects had been arrested in recent operations. Authorities urge cattle keepers to strengthen vigilance by securing kraals and reporting suspicious movements of people, vehicles, or livestock to the authorities.

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