By Eric Yiga
Three men have been arrested for allegedly stealing vanilla in Mpunge Sub-County Mukono district.
Police led by Mbogo Yekusonis arrested three suspects, Henry Kiggundu, Tumwesigye Dickson, who claimed to be an officer and another identified as Kiwa, who were traveling in a Premio UAX 673V and a motorcycle number UEP 058A. They were found to be smuggling vanilla which they had allegedly stolen from farmers.
The three allegedly invaded five villages including Gonve, Mpunge, Ngombere, Kalengera, and Nsanja in Mpunge Sub-County and Katosi town council in Mukono district at night and stole the vanilla from farmers.
Vanilla farmers led by Bisaso Elasto said the thieves have been costing them millions of shillings.
The farmers said that the theft is rampant in the area.
Kirya Daniel, one of the leaders of Kisoga B village where the stolen vanilla was found, said the practice of stealing vanilla, especially young ones, has become rampant in the area which is causing serious losses to farmers and deteriorating the quality of vanilla.
Police then ordered all the vanilla to be packed in bags and taken on a bodaboda to Ntenjeru police station, where the suspects are being held at the police station with the vanilla.
