SHEEMA CRIMINALS ARRESTED IN SHEEMA. RPC AND PRO ADDRESSING THEM
By Zadock Amanyisa
in Sheema
Fear has engulfed residents of Sheema district following high rate of criminality causing insecurity in the area.
Police in Sheema has in a period of one week arrested and detained 29 suspected cattle thieves including the notorious ones that have carried out the “business” for the last nine years.
Mr. David Bashakara, a resident of Kabwohe-itendero town council says he last month lost a vehicle which was later recovered in Rakai district and has also lost two cows.
“It is now hard for us to live in our area after it has been ravaged by thives and robbers who will eventually kill us. I was recently robbed of property worth millions when robbers found me at my home deep in the night. We need enough security here,” says Mr. Bashakara
While parading the suspects before journalists on Monday, the Bushenyi greater regional police commander, Mr. Micheal Musani Sabila said that following a public outcry about cases of robbery, murder and burglary in Sheema district in April, Police launched a six months operation to curb down the perpetrators.
Just days after launching the operation, 64 people were arrested and detained at Sheema police station by police seeking to fight criminals in the district.
The operation commanded by the district police commander, Mr. Christopher Ruhunde arrested 40 men and 25 women with many held for being idle and disorderly.
“Some were found in bars playing pool in the morning hours when they were expected to be working while others were found idling in town,” said Mr. Ruhunde
The operations were beefed up following a visit by the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura to investigate alarming rates of criminality and insecurity in the district that had left more than 20 killed and others injured.
Last week another operation commanded by the regional police commander, Mr. Micheal Musani was lauched against cattle thieves and more than 29 suspects were arrested and among the 29, 11 are notorious ones according to the Mr. Musani
Notorious ones include Godfrey Mucunguzi of Migina Kagango Sheema north who confessed to have started stealing cattle in 2007 in areas of Sheema, Mbarara, and Kiruhuura, Edwin Ahabwe who confessed to have started the business in 2009 being employed by Mr. Mucunguzi, Robert Turyahabwe, Nelson Mushabe, Paddy Shumbusha , Francis Mugizi, Musiime Basikana and one only identified as Wycliff plus many others also from the sub counties of Kagango, Kigarama, Kabwohe-itendero town council and Kyangyenyi.
According to the RPC, Cattle thieves are financed by renowned dealers led by Mr. Fredrick Byansi of Bwayegamba Kigarama Sheema north who has been dealing in buying and selling of cattle since 1996.
Also, crime preventers have reportedly involved in cattle theft and one identified as Joshua Basheija has been arrested and detained.
“We have also learnt that some Local council officials have facilitated cattle theft by processing cattle movement permits and licenses in their villages and we shall go for them,” said Mr. Musani, the greater Bushenyi RPC while talking to journalists on Tuesday.
The RPC also said that some of the cattle thieves forge LC stamps to facilitate the trade.
Police warned LC officials against involving in criminality saying they will be apprehended by the law.
Also according to police, other suspected cattle thieves are on the run and they will be arrested with the help of special operations unit forces that have been in the region for the last two weeks.
Besides cattle theft, other cases of murder, burglary and robberies. Ten cases of murder have been reported since January originating from domestic violence, substances abuse, land disputes and failed relationships according to police.
Police bosses have attributed the high crime rate in the district to moral degeneration in society where values are no longer respected.
“Places like Kabwohe and itendero towns are growing faster with population on the increase yet the resources are scarce. This has made people opt to strive in a negative way in order to live and this is dangerous,” said Mr. Musani
Police have beefed up day and night foot patrols by uniformed officers and crime preventers to manage the situation.