Ibanda: Police rescues two suspected cattle thieves from angry mob
Police in Ibanda have arrested two supects on charges of livestock theft.
The suspects identified as Osbert Turyahabwe and Alex Tubenaawe were on Wednesday arrested in Nyabuhikye with the meat of a suspected stolen animal.
The two suspects were first intercepted by residents with cow’s meat at Kankuurwa swamp in Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality, along the Nyabuhikye-Kigunga road.
One of the suspects, Turyahabwe cheated death at the hands of this irate mob, who cut off his fingers and the heels after he was caught by the residents with the meat.
The suspect, who could not walk and was covered in blood after the attack was later rescued by police and taken to Ruhoko Health Centre IV for treatment and specialized care.
However, Tubenaawe managed to escape at first but he was later nabbed on the other side of the swamp and beaten up before the arrival of Police.
According to Ibanda Police, the duo stole the animal worth over UGX 1.5m from an elderly woman identified as Abby Ainomugisha, a resident of Kemitoojo, Kayenje in Bufunda Division, on Tuesday night.
Tubenaawe is in Police custody while Turyahabwe has since been admitted to Hospital where he is nursing injuries.
According to police records, Ibanda district has recorded several cases of livestock theft where animals like cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and chicken are stolen.
Ibanda Central Police station alone recorded 47 cases of livestock thefts last year, an increase from 36 cases that were registered in 2020.
