Two shot dead as police intercept vehicle carrying stolen cattle

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Police in Nagalama on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, engaged suspected cattle thieves at Nakasajja Trading Centre, successfully recovering three heads of cattle from a white Toyota Prado TX, registration number UAZ 797G.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said the vehicle had four occupants. While two suspects fled the scene, the other two were fatally shot.

“It is alleged that on May 14, 2025, at around 3:00 am, officers from Nagalama Police Station, while on routine patrol at Kalagi Trading Centre along Gayaza Road, noticed a Prado TX moving suspiciously. When signalled to stop, the vehicle instead sped off. A pursuit ensued, and the vehicle was intercepted at Nakasajja Trading Centre,” Owoyesigyire said.

He revealed that during the pursuit, two suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, while the remaining two sustained injuries and were pronounced dead en route to hospital.

“Efforts are currently underway to identify the origins of the recovered cattle and to ascertain the identities of the suspects who fled the scene. The bodies of the deceased suspects remain unidentified and are currently at the City Mortuary pending post-mortem examination,” he added.

The stolen cattle. (Courtesy)

Owoyesigyire commended officers from Nagalama Police Station for their vigilance and swift response. “There has been a noticeable rise in cattle theft across the country, and we believe the intercepted vehicle was being used to transport stolen cattle to market,” he said.

He promised to share further details on the matter in due course.

The incident comes amid a surge in cattle thefts involving private vehicles.

In February this year, territorial police in the Savannah Region apprehended two notorious suspected cattle thieves: Amis Masembe, alias Ronald (also known as Katoto or General), a 35-year-old businessman and resident of Busula-Kalule in Luwero District; and Godwin Tayebwa, a 38-year-old milk vendor from Lusaka Zone, Hoima City.

Police said the pair were suspected of terrorising the Savannah, Albertine, Aswa and Wamala regions, and that their operations had been successfully disrupted, bringing relief to affected communities.

In a statement, police said that on the night of February 6, 2025, the suspects travelled to Bujjabe Village in Nakitoma sub-county, stole three heads of cattle, loaded them onto a truck, and transported them to Hoima District.

“The police flying squad was tipped off about the suspects and the stolen cattle, leading to the arrest of Masembe and Tayebwa. However, Salongo and Kakande, who were driving the vehicle, escaped. The stolen cattle were recovered, and the suspects were transferred to Nakasongola Police Station to help in investigations,” the statement said.

Police added that Masembe is alleged to be a notorious cattle thief with a long history of arrests, and that he has consistently been on their watch list.