Uganda: Farmers beg local authorities to ‘beef up’ security after cattle thefts (All Africa)

| August 10, 2015

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Farmers in the Lamwo District of northern Uganda want authorities to stop thieves from stealing their cattle.

Two weeks ago, thieves stole six cows belonging to farmers in the district. Police were called in and pursued the thieves, forcing them to abandon the cows. But farmers are worried that the thieves could strike again.

Lamwo District officials report that, between 2009 and March 2015, thieves stole almost 800 cattle and goats.

Charles Obong Okwera is the chairperson of Madi-Opei sub-county in Lamwo District, near the border between South Sudan and Uganda. He says: “Our people are living in fear. Some have abandoned farming using oxen, fearing they might be attacked by rustlers.”

Cattle raiding and fighting over scarce resources are not new to the area. Last September, at least seven people were killed in a string of clashes on either side of the Uganda-South Sudan border. In October of last year, rustlers suspected to be from South Sudan looted more than 20 cattle in Poyamo village in Madi-Opei.

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