By Desire Ayebaziibwe,
NATIONAL
Police and the UPDF are seeking for over 400 billion shillings for procurement of 1500 sniffer dogs to help them in expanding the forces’ canine units and fighting criminality.
The forces intends to spend at least Shs30 millions on each sniffer dog.
This was revealed yesterday by the chairperson of defense and internal affairs committee of parliament, Rose Mary Nyakikongoro – the Sheema District Woman Member of Parliament while presenting a committe’s report on the 2023/24 Budget Framework paper to the Budget committee of parliament.
According to the tabled report, Police police needs Shs4.968 billion to buy 750 dogs, while the UPDF also wants to procure 750 sniffer dogs.
In the 2023/2024 National budget, Uganda Police Force has been allocated Shs823.728Bn, although the Force needs Shs2.902Trn, leaving a funding gap of Shs2.078Trn.
¶Investigations of crimes has a funding gap of Shs70.569bn to reduce congestion in prisons, addressing cattle rustling in Karamoja has been provided with Shs9.194Bn leaving a funding gap of Shs85.297Bn and acquisition of 750dogs under the canine unit requires an additional Shs4.658bn.¶ Hon. Nyakikongoro explained.
She said that the required money includes money for procurement of dog feeds which she says their feeding is more costly than feeding humans.
“This budget includes feeding, some of you have dogs, you know how much you spend on dogs, their budget is more than actually the people, it is just like that. I have that experience, the budget of dogs is more expensive than the family members. I think we need dogs in the districts because they have helped in the rural areas, in the urban areas because of the trespass, they spoil everything, but in the rural areas, they have helped.”
Of the required Shs4.968bn, only Shs310M has been availed to police, leaving a funding gap of Shs4.658bn, that the Defence Committee has recommended to the Budget Committee to ensure the money is availed and enable police do its works without interferences.
These dogs are kept and trained under the police unit of Canine Unit.The unit was established in 1958 with only 4 dogs and was formerly called Dog Unit. In 2012, the unit name was changed to Uganda Police Canine Unit.
