EASTERN PROVINCE KAYONZA — Authorities in the Rukara Sector, Kayonza district have commissioned an investigation into reports of suspected poisoning of cows donated by Send a Cow in the area. The investigation was ordered following the mysterious deaths of two cows belonging to one Jean Marie Vianney Ndugutse. Marie Goreth Uwizeye, the Sector Executive Secretary, said this week that security organs are carrying out investigations to establish the possible cause of the deaths. According to her, a veterinary report established that Ndugutse’s first cow which had brought forth a calf just three days before, died after drinking water or eating fodder which was laced with acid. After its death, Ndugutse was given another cow by Send a Cow, a Non Government Organisation supporting cattle stocking programmes in the country. However, after sometime the second cow died also under similar mysterious circumstances. ‘Suspects were summoned and we are having a general meeting which will be attended by the police to look at the real cause of the incident in order to arrest suspicion characterss’, Uwizeye said, adding that there has been a lot of speculation. She sounded optimistic that the meeting would establish the truth and come up with the right measures.Residents of Rukara Sector are the leading beneficiaries of cows donated under the One Cow per family programme in the district. Ndugutse is the chairman of Ngwinurebe Cooperative, which has received 135 cows, and he is regarded as an exemplary farmer. Damus Muhororo the district Mayor, said: ‘Two incidences, one after another should not be left just like that, there should be investigations especially due to the fact that this incident targeted only one person’. He also pointed out that residents need more sensitisation on the cattle stocking programme as some recipients lack the requisite husbandry practices needed to enable them benefit from the Send A Cow programme. ‘They should not be ignored, if they are not helped and find no benefit from the cows the programme will be meaningless yet it is important and has to be ehanced’, Muhororo pointed out. He further pointed out that if reports of cattle poisoning are left unchecked it would trigger conflicts in the community. Ends
