By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
Mbale Central Police on Tuesday, 19th November, 2024 arrested two men suspected of being in possession of stolen cow meat.
The suspects, identified as Martin Watibini and Moses Wabudeya, from Bunefure Village, Bugobero Sub-county, Manafwa District, were apprehended from Bubirabi Cell, Namatala Ward, Industrial Division, Mbale City.
According to Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Elgon police spokesperson, the arrest followed an alert received from officers at Half Landon Police Post.
He says the officers reported the presence of suspected criminals occupying a house. Upon receiving the information, ASP Mulali and his team responded immediately.
Taitika says that at the scene, they found the garage of a house open and they entered to discover the two suspects cleaning what appeared to be stolen meat. Upon sighting the officers, the suspects attempted to flee into other rooms, armed with machetes (pangas).
In the process of attempting to arrest them, the officers shot the suspects in their thighs after they made aggressive moves while armed.
He stated that the suspects, who were found in a pool of blood and pretending to be unconscious, were taken to Mbale Regional Referral hospital for medical treatment.
Taitika says that a Toyota car (registration number UBL 230B), found at the scene with blood stains, was also recovered.
The investigation revealed that the house had been stripped of all personal property, with only the stolen meat found in the garage.
The recovered items included Five heads of cattle, Twenty legs of cattle, Liver, kidneys, and heart (without intestines).
The police spokesperson says that all the recovered items were taken to the CPS Mbale City for safekeeping, pending disposal through a court order as suspects remain under police guard while undergoing treatment.
The police continue to investigate the source of the stolen meat and the involvement of other potential accomplices in the crime.
