Three people have been arrested in Fort Portal after being allegedly caught red-handed selling over 40 kilograms of decomposing meat to residents. 

The suspects, Bashir Rajab, Clovis Isingoma, and Majid Musisi were found with meat from three different cows and a goat. 

Fort Portal city veterinary officer, Dr Stanley Businge, who also doubles as the city production officer, intercepted the suspects on Tuesday evening while carrying out his routine inspection exercise.

Businge said that he found the suspects selling the rotten meat from wooden boxes in an isolated bushy area behind Mpanga market. He said that rotten meat is unfit for human consumption and can result in disease-causing infections when consumed.

Businge says that the suspects will be charged with violating the public health act, meat rules, and regulations, and suspected theft of livestock.

He adds the suspects will have to produce evidence of where they bought the meat from or slaughtered the animals because towards the Christmas festive season animal theft is rampant.  

Businge revealed that in Fort Portal cases of animal theft have been on the increase where 101 animals were stolen between July–October this year.  

He, however, says that only 61 were reported to the police. The suspects were handed over to Fort Portal central police station as investigations continue.

Vincent Twesige, the Rwenzori West police spokesperson, said that he had not yet received information about this case as he was not in the city. - URN/The Observer