Doctor Innocent Tuwangye, the Manager Nshaara Government Ranch in Kiruhura District has come under fire for evicting hundreds of cows not allowed to move from one area to another because of an ongoing ban on cattle movement due to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the cattle corridor.
Currently there is an ongoing ban on the movement, sale and slaughtering of cattle following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Kiruhura district. Other districts under quarantine are Mbarara, Isingiro, Sheema, Ibanda, Kazo, and Bushenyi.
According to the victims of Dr. Tuwangye’s unilateral selective action, during the last security meeting with cattle farmers who have been grazing in Nshaara government ranch land, it had been agreed that people be given ample time to gradually vacate the government land once the FMD quarantine is lifted. This is because most of these farmers have nowhere else to graze their cattle and cannot easily buy land where to relocate them thus wanting time to relocate.
The minister in charge of animal husbandry Bright Rwamirama who attended the meeting also directed that the eviction would commence once the Ministry had fully vaccinated all the cows against FMD.
The meeting had been chaired by the area RDC and attended by the UPDF division commander, police and other security chiefs.
This was agreed upon because cattle owners cannot get cattle movement permits to be able to move their cows since there is foot and mouth disease in the neighborhood areas.
Surprisingly, on July 30th, DR Tuwangye used GKO security guards who operated under his armpits and easily manipulated and brutally evicted some cows from the ranch and left some belonging to the powerful and those that were in position to bribe him.
GKO Security Company which was handpicked by the NAGRC boss Dr. Peter Beine has been operating outside its mandate which is solely to protect hay and silage at the ranch.
A case in point, Dr. Tuwangye spared cows belonging to the untouchables like
1. Nzeire Shedrack Kaguta
2. Col Naboth Rwabwera
3. Marco Buturumba Kaguta
4. Patrick Muyambi
5. Matama
6. Mesarch Kadigidi
7. Col Nkojo
The poor victims whose cows were evicted and missing include,
1. Rwamwojo
2. Tibo
3. Kasharazi
4 Kampe Berrick
5. Brian
6. Keibanda
7. Wilber among others.
Those released have been let free to mix with those in foot and mouth disease affected areas.
Several cattle farmers are reporting loss of their cows lost during the brutal eviction chaos. Other cows are reported brutally injured by the guards.
Top officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries say they did not sanction DR Tuwangye’s action since it contradicts the outcomes of the security meeting which agreed on gradual and orderly removal after full vaccination to ensure there is no spread of the disease.
Efforts by the Deputy RDC Kiruhura district Asaba David Nkojo to reach out to Tuwangye for explanation was futile after he closed himself inside his office at Nshaara ranch headquarters.
Top security chiefs in the district have also distanced themselves from the illegal eviction.
The district veterinary doctor while appearing on a local FM condemned Tuwangye’s actions saying it was a setback towards the fight against the disease claiming hundreds of cattle in the region.
The concerned victims want the son of the soil President Museveni to intervene in this issue and tame Dr. Tuwangye whom they say his selective actions may affect president Museveni’s support in the district come 2026.
They also accuse the Nshaara boss of being an opposition against government programs in the area aimed at improving the livelihoods.
