Lyantonde Residents Divided After Magistrate’s Verdict In Long-Running Cattle Case

By Patience Ampaire 

Residents of Rwamiramira Village in Kinuuka Sub-county, Lyantonde District, have expressed dissatisfaction with a recent court ruling in a long-running cattle theft case that has divided the community for more than a year.

The case dates back to 2024 when Ms. Jolly Murombe accused Abaho Enock, Karuhanga Godfrey alias Kibanda, and Muhwezi Joram of cattle theft. According to court records, Ms. Murombe, accompanied by officers from Lyantonde Police, reportedly went to the farm of Mr. Cyprian Kabeera Gasana in Rwamiramira, where workers at the farm were allegedly assaulted before 13 cows were taken in the owner’s absence.

At the time, part of Mr. Kabeera’s land had been rented out to tenants, including one of the accused, Godfrey Karuhanga. Mr. Kabeera later petitioned the court seeking the return of three cows he claimed belonged to him, arguing that the animals had been wrongly identified as belonging to the accused.

The matter remained before court until May 20, 2026, when Grade One Magistrate Wandera Ramadhan Akiiki delivered judgment in favour of Ms. Murombe.

In the ruling, the magistrate sentenced the accused persons Abaho, Karuhanga,  Kibanda, and Muhwezi to three years and six months in prison. Court also awarded compensation of Shs28 million to Ms. Murombe.

Speaking after the ruling, Ms. Murombe said she was aware that Mr. Kabeera had ownership claims over some of the animals but maintained she was acting according to the court order.

“I am aware that Cyprian had three cows, but court ruled that I should take 12 cows and Cyprian one cow, so I have nothing to do,” she said.

The court further ordered that the cattle be released from the farm of Mr. Augustine Birimana, where they had reportedly been kept for one and a half years pending determination of the case. Magistrate Wandera stated that court had established that the cows belonged to Ms. Murombe and ordered that they be restored to her.

However, the ruling has sparked mixed reactions among residents of Rwamiramira Village and Kinuuka Sub-county.

Several residents, including Alex Kiiza alias Kanini, Akandwanaho John Mujungu, and Thomas Mushonshoreko, questioned the court’s decision, insisting that some of the disputed cows belonged to Mr. Kabeera.

“We are surprised by the ruling because the three cows belonged to Cyprian. We know this because they were given to him,” one resident said.

Kiconco Midius, a resident of Kinuuka Sub-county, also criticized the judgment, describing it as unfair.

“I am a lame old woman and cannot even help myself. How am I going to survive without my son’s support and these children?” she asked while appealing to government authorities for justice.

Mr. Kabeera expressed disappointment with the court process, arguing that despite presenting what he described as sufficient evidence, his submissions were not fully considered.

“I had enough evidence, but the magistrate could not listen to me. I am ready to proceed with an appeal to recover my remaining cows,” he said.

He further alleged that the magistrate did not allocate enough time to examine all the evidence before delivering the ruling.

Meanwhile, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for the area, Nkojo Asaba David, said the matter had finally reached its conclusion after spending more than a year before court.

“The court has ordered that the cows be released from Mr. Birimana’s farm. We thank him for taking care of the animals during all this time,” he said.

The RDC confirmed that 12 cows had been handed over to Ms. Murombe and advised the dissatisfied parties to seek redress through the appellate courts if they were unhappy with the judgment.