Former parliamentary candidate probed for cattle theft

Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The police in Moroto is investigating Paul Oloo, a contestant in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections for cattle theft. Oloo, also known as Balabala-Moi, lost the Matheniko County parliamentary seat to Lokii John Baptist.

It is alleged that the cattle were stolen from a neighbouring village on Thursday night, and according to the police, footmarks from the scene of the crime were tracked to Oloo’s village in Nasinyonoit. This happened just hours after Oloo returned to Moroto from Soroti, where he lost a petition challenging the outcome of the January 2021 polls.

Witnesses told Uganda Radio Network that security personnel cordoned off Nasinyonoit village at 8:00 a.m. and later asked Balabala-Moi, together with the Village Chairperson only identified as Kapel and three others to report to police and aid investigations. They were subsequently asked to record a statement at Moroto Central Police Station.

Police says that some of the animals that the Joint forces were tracking entered in Nasinyonoit village, and after a cordon and search, Oloo emerged from the same area and offered the information that may help in the investigation process. By this afternoon, Balabala-Moi was recording a statement while scores of his supporters converged at the police.

Earlier, some of his supporters had arguments with some of the security personnel over reports he had been arrested. But Mt. Moroto Police Spokesperson Michael Longole asked the community to be calm and allow the police to do their work.

This is not the first time that security personnel have asked local leaders to help with investigations of cattle theft. In June, the army picked several Sub parish councillors from different areas in Moroto district on suspicion of participating in cattle theft in their areas. They were later released without charges.

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