Rampant Animal Theft Threatens Government Programs in Njeru Municipality

Beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Konko Cell, Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District are raising concerns over the increasing cases of animal theft, which they say are jeopardizing the success of the government initiative.

The beneficiaries, who focus on animal husbandry, have reported frequent thefts of goats, pigs, cattle, and chickens, leading to significant losses. Simon Amwaza, a farmer in Konko B, says he and other farmers have resorted to sleeping with their animals to protect them from thieves.

"We cannot leave animals outside at night. We sleep with them to prevent thieves from stealing them," Amwaza said. He attributes the rising thefts to high unemployment among the youth and the lack of police presence at the village level.

"The government should reintroduce police posts in villages to curb theft and improve security," he urged. Hellen Apollot, a resident of Konko A, shared her frustration after losing part of her investment. "I received one million shillings under the Parish Development Model to buy four piglets, but two of them were stolen just before giving birth," she explained.

Similarly, Geoffrey Mujomba, the LC1 chairman of Konko Village, confirmed that PDM beneficiaries receive one million shillings each as a government loan. However, he noted that animal theft has become a serious problem, causing tension among farmers. 

"The absence of police posts at the village level has left residents with no proper channels to report these cases. We need the government to reinstate police posts to ensure security," Mujomba said.

However, Hellen Butoto, the Ssezibwa Region Police spokesperson, said that police had not yet received any official complaints from residents regarding animal thefts. "We have not received any case from Konko Village concerning animal theft, but we encourage victims to report to the police so that we can help," Butoto stated. 

With livestock theft on the rise, PDM beneficiaries and local leaders are appealing to the government to increase security measures in villages to protect farmers' investments and ensure the success of the program.