Uganda Police Enhance Crime Fighting with Deployment of 10 Canine Vehicles

The Uganda Police Force has initiated a significant enhancement to its crime-fighting capabilities with the deployment of ten dedicated canine vehicles. These vehicles will be distributed across ten police regions, with a particular focus on extending critical canine services to rural areas where access has historically been a challenge.

This strategic move is designed to streamline the transportation of sniffer dogs to crime scenes. Previously, logistical gaps often resulted in officers resorting to asking victims or the public for assistance with transport and fuel for the dogs, a practice that Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) James Ocaya described as a form of corruption.

DIGP Ocaya highlighted that the new vehicles are expected to eliminate such fuel-related solicitations, thereby reducing opportunities for corruption within the force. “We expect to see more vigilance and more tracking. But we want to focus on prevention more,” Ocaya stated, emphasizing the dual role of the canine units in both investigation and prevention.

Data from the latest crime report indicates the effectiveness of the police canine teams, which were deployed in approximately 20,000 cases and assisted in over 17,000 suspect arrests. With the new vehicles, police anticipate an increase in these successful operations.

Commandant of the Uganda Police Canine Unit, Dr. Martin Mugume, acknowledged that logistical challenges have previously hampered the deployment of sniffer dogs. The introduction of these vehicles is a crucial step towards improving response times and ensuring that members of the public can access essential police services without incurring additional costs.

The force has also issued a stern warning against individuals or groups who claim to connect crime victims with police services while demanding money, stating that such exploitation will lead to arrest.

This initiative is part of a broader, three-year plan by the Uganda Police Force to extend canine services to all 32 police regions nationwide, aiming to bolster crime detection, investigation, and overall public safety.

https://nilepost.co.ug/news/370308/police-deploy-10-canine-vehicles-to-boost-crime-investigations