SIMPSON M
Residents of Ruyonza Parish in Nyarushanje Subcounty, Rukungiri District, have raised alarm over a growing wave of livestock and coffee thefts, which they say is frustrating government efforts to lift communities out of poverty.
Their concerns were reignited by two recent incidents, including the theft of a cow and the killing of a person who was caught attempting to steal coffee from a plantation on June 2, 2025.
Tugume Edward, a resident of Kyarukamba Cell, narrated his ordeal after his cow was stolen on May 30, 2025. After a lengthy search, the cow was discovered to have been slaughtered by Bosco Masiko, a butcher operating in Ruyonza Trading Centre.
“Bosco stole the cow, slaughtered it from the bush and carried the meat to his butchery. When questioned about it, he had nothing to answer and had no documents regarding the cow he had slaughtered. He was taken to police, and they are still looking for other suspects he has been working with,” Edward said.
He further expressed the difficulties residents face trying to protect their animals and property from thieves. According to Edward, Masiko has long been slaughtering animals at his butchery without residents knowing the source of the livestock, and without any official documentation.
Local leaders, including Ruyonza Parish LC2 Chairperson Tugume Rossetti and Pauson Kajeere, attributed the rising theft cases to idle youth, many of whom dropped out of school and now spend their days playing matatu and nights stealing.
The leaders noted that in the past three years, four suspects have been lynched by mob justice in the area due to theft, yet crime levels remain high. They warned that most animals acquired by residents through the Parish Development Model (PDM) program have been stolen, pushing families back into poverty.
They are now appealing for urgent government intervention and the strengthening of village security teams to combat the escalating criminality.
The issue has been officially reported to subcounty and district leaders, who have pledged to work closely with local authorities to develop and implement practical solutions.
The concerns from Ruyonza residents reflect a growing challenge across Rukungiri District, where livestock theft continues to undermine economic empowerment and poverty reduction efforts.
