NAPAK, Uganda – Police in Napak District have launched investigations and are pursuing suspects who broke into the district’s cold chain facility and stole hundreds of doses of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines, in what authorities describe as an unprecedented incident in the district.
The break-in occurred on the night of Sunday, July 12, at the Napak District headquarters in the Karamoja sub-region.
The Mt. Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson, Michael Longole, confirmed the incident, saying the case was reported to police after officials discovered that thieves had gained access to the cold chain facility through a window.
According to Longole, the theft was reported by Stephen Olupot, a Laboratory Technician at Napak District Local Government.
Police officers who visited the scene established that the suspects made away with an unspecified number of Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine doses, Javaplasm C veterinary medicine, and one laptop computer.
“When the matter was reported, we deployed a canine unit, and the police dog identified persons of interest who are currently being followed up as investigations continue,” Longole said.
He strongly condemned the theft, emphasizing that the stolen vaccines are essential for protecting livestock against Foot-and-Mouth Disease, a highly contagious viral disease that poses a serious threat to livestock production and farmers’ livelihoods across the Karamoja region.
Longole warned that tampering with, transporting, or selling stolen vaccines poses significant public and animal health risks and is a criminal offence.
Police have appealed to members of the public to cooperate with investigators by providing any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects or the recovery of the stolen vaccines and other items.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
