Some of the recovered cows
20 cows stolen from the border Kween district in eastern Uganda have been recovered from an abattoir in Nairobi, Kenya.
Last week on May 4, at least 20 cows were stolen from grazing grounds in Katelel village, Chepskunya town council in Kween district. The theft was suspected to have been carried out by Pokot pastoralists from Amudat district, prompting local leaders to track down the perpetrators.
Joseph Lobot, the Amudat LC 5 chairperson stated that sub-county chairpersons were tasked with forming a joint security team to locate the stolen cows.
The tracking team followed footprints, which led them to West Pokot in Kenya. They then deployed personnel to all nearby cattle markets, and the cows were eventually discovered in an abattoir in Nairobi that same day.
Lobot accused Pokot pastoralists from West Pokot in Kenya of causing recurring problems and damaging the relationship between Amudat district and its neighbouring districts. He noted that there have been ongoing disputes between the people of Kween, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Amudat districts regarding cattle theft.
Michael Longole, Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson, confirmed the recovery of all 20 cows from an abattoir in Nairobi, where the raiders had reportedly sold them to cattle dealers. Longole stated that a joint effort between local leaders and security teams in Amudat led to the impounding of the cows.
They determined that the cattle trader had purchased the stolen cows from Kacheliba cattle market in West Pokot. Longole revealed that the cows’ rightful owners had already left for Nairobi on the afternoon of May 8 to reclaim their animals after learning of their discovery.
In December 2022, Kween district leaders ordered Pokot pastoralists to vacate their district, as grazing animals therein was causing insecurity and destroying crops, which raised fears of a possible hunger crisis.
Source: The Observer
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