The ongoing crackdown on cattle rustling in Eastern Province has led to arrest of three other suspects in Kayonza District, believed to be behind the Wednesday night theft in Nyagatare District.

The trio, identified as Fred Rugema, James Rutikanga and Celestin Mutaganda, was arrested on Thursday in Gahini Sector where all the ten cows reportedly stolen in Nyagatare were recovered.

The cows had been stolen from a kraal in Karangazi Sector in Nyagatare.

The suspects were at the time of their arrest trying to sell the cows to a dealer in Gahini.

Police spokesperson for the eastern region, Emmanuel Kayigi, said Police received information on the theft from the victim and that all district units in the region were alerted.

"During the course of investigations and operation, Police in Kayonza received information from a man in Gahini to whom the suspects were trying to sell the cows, reporting people he suspected to be cattle rustlers,” Kayigi said.

"Cattle rustling is an issue that Police, in partnership with other security organs, local leaders and the general public, have stood up against. We are happy that the public have actually owned this fight and almost all the successful operations – arrests and recovery of stolen cows – are based on credible information police receives from them,” he added.

Earlier this week, seven cows were recovered in Kayonza and suspects arrested.

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