By eastafrican gazette
Kampala
The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has achieved significant milestones in the last decade following the establishment of a local breeding unit center for sniffer dogs.
In the past, the force had to allocate between shs30 million and shs40 million for the importation of a trained dog, depending on the breed and specialization.
Dr. Martin Mugume, the force’s Canine Unit Commandant, highlights those financial constraints prevented them from importing an adequate number of dogs, resulting in gaps in dealing with crime.
He points out that importing eight sniffer dogs annually at Sh40 million each would amount to shs320 million per year, totaling about shs3.2 billion over a decade, which was deemed costly and unsustainable.
Consequently, the force’s senior management decided to establish the Nagalama Breeding Center in Mukono district, located in the Central Part of Uganda, ten years ago in 2014.
Mugume, who is also the Commissioner of Police Veterinary Surgeon, clarifies that upon conducting a comprehensive evaluation, they discovered that the expenses involved in breeding a puppy from birth until deployment amounted to only shs8 million, which was significantly lower than the cost of importing a fully trained sniffer dog.
As a result, local breeding saves a minimum of shs32 million per dog. He mentions that over 350 dogs have been bred and trained at the facility since its establishment.
By 2010, the canine unit had 28 sniffer dogs in only fourteen (14) districts.
In contrast to imported dogs, locally bred and trained sniffer dogs, regardless of their breed, are able to easily acclimate to the local environmental conditions.
He observes that the mature sniffer dogs imported from abroad require a significant amount of time to adjust, resulting in a decrease in their effectiveness.
Additionally, he highlights that local breeding offers the advantage of adaptability in deployments, as it is convenient to replace dogs that have passed away or retired from service.
He explains the lengthy procurement time lines back then, would also not allow swift and timely deployments.
Since the establishment of local breeding centre, the canine unit now operates in more than 91 districts and the police expects to expand canine services to 13 districts including: Kasandha, Nakasogola, Nakaseke,Bukomansimbi, Nebbi , Adjumani, Agago, Kibuku, Bukwo , Kanungu,Isingiro, Apac, and Bulambuli among others.
Mugume explained that their objective is to guarantee that every central police station across the country receives a pair of sniffer dogs for crime investigations.
The unit is also providing assistance to the Narcotics Department at Entebbe International Airport, border points, and the Counter Terror Directorate.
If funds are available, the police plan is to establish canine services in 111 districts, at an estimated cost of shs13 billion.
At the canine unit at Nsambya, the entry into the high-security facilities is signaled by the sudden barking of the dogs, alerting to the presence of a stranger.
Dog instructors mentioned that the dogs do not bark when personnel from the canine unit enter the facilities, as they are already familiar with their scent.
Mugume highlighted that the Police is modernizing the canine unit to enhance its impact in combating criminal activities nationwide.
He emphasized that the criminality addressed by the canine team ranges from petty theft to serious crimes like murders and burglaries.
The canine teams are responsible for various tasks such as searching for missing individuals, inspecting crime scenes, locating suspects, and recovering hidden evidence. Additionally, the dogs are trained to detect explosives to combat terrorism and identify narcotics to fight drug trafficking.
Mugume disclosed that breeds like Belgian shepherds (Malinois), English Springer Spaniels, Dutch Shepherds, Bloodhounds, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and Germany pointers are now bred, trained, and deployed by the police force, whereas previously only German shepherds were imported.
“The introduction of these world-renowned superior breeds had breathed a new life into the canine unit and increased the success rate of their operations,” observed Mugume.
He explained that each breed brings to the table its unique characteristics in terms of structure and behaviour, harnessed by the training teams to deploy dogs that are fit for purpose leading to success.
Mugume highlighted the unique abilities of various dog breeds.
For instance, the Belgian shepherd (Malinoir) is known for its high intelligence and agility. With a deep chest and strong muscles, this breed can easily walk long distances during investigations, enabling canine teams to track criminals over extended periods.
Mugume notes that the English Springer Spaniel is a small-sized dog weighing around 10 kilograms.
The breed possesses the ability to maneuver into smaller areas, such as under aircraft and vehicle seats, where larger dogs may struggle to reach during search operations.
Mugume emphasizes that English Springer Spaniels are highly intelligent and can work under tough conditions, with a life expectancy of up to 14 years.
Furthermore, Mugume notes the Dutch Shepherd, stands out due to its distinctive physical traits like the muscular bodies, deep and long chests, and an easy-to-train nature.
He also hinted on the Bloodhound breed, which he says is renowned for its exceptional sense of smell.
He emphasizes that Bloodhounds are among the best breeds developed for tracking human beings.
Mugume reveals that they are training dogs for disaster search and rescue operations, specifically in scenarios involving collapsed buildings and landslides where individuals may be trapped under debris.
The unit also provides training for patrol dogs to handle public order management, with a dedicated group assigned to safeguard high-value government properties.
He notes that a single trained dog can effectively carry out the tasks equivalent to that of 10-20 officers, thus showcasing the significant multiplier effect they bring to the table.
Mugume discloses that every police station necessitates a dedicated kennel, consisting of a well-ventilated chamber and a specialized vehicle for transporting the sniffer dog.
He emphasizes, “The kennel ought to be built with high-security chain link fence attributes, capable of enduring rain, and should have access to water and ample lighting. Additionally, each police station must assign two dog handlers to ensure their well-being.”
Mugume stated that dogs are assigned informal ranks such as corporal and sergeant based on their proficiency in conducting thorough investigations while on duty.
How to track criminals
Mugume elaborated on the importance of a dog’s sense of smell, stating that dogs dedicate a significant amount of brain power to interpreting scents.
With over 100 million sensory receptor sites in their nasal cavity, dogs far surpass humans in this aspect.
According to Mugume, dogs have an incredible sense of smell, estimated to be anywhere from 1,000 to 20,000 times better than that of humans.
He also mentions that all police working dogs are provided with a uniform, well-balanced dry ration diet, with each dog consuming 1.1 kilograms of dry ration daily.
The average lifespan of a dog is around 12-14 years, and as they age, they are not euthanized but instead given proper care until they pass away.
Mugume shared a story of a unique dog that lived for 17 years, receiving excellent care until its passing. The dog was then buried at the Nsambya dog training ground as a tribute to its dedicated service.
The department strongly advocates for increased funding to enhance specialized training in scent discrimination techniques for investigating criminal syndicates and training of more dog instructors.
Additionally, it is imperative to acquire additional customized vehicles that are crucial for efficiently transporting the highly trained dogs to and from crime scenes.
In 2023, a total of over 20,000 cases were handled by the police using canines, resulting in the successful apprehension of more than 17,000 suspects and the recovery of close to 5,000 exhibits, according to Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson.
This is a significant increase compared to the year 2007, where less than 500 cases were attended to and less than 100 suspects were arrested, with only 45 exhibits recovered.
Based on the police report from January to December 2022, dogs were involved in tracking 17,752 cases, leading to the arrest of 13,281 suspects.
Additionally, 5,015 suspects were taken to court, and 6,022 exhibits were recovered. The number of individuals taken to court amounted to 5,738, while 6,554 exhibits were successfully retrieved.
Enanga emphasized the importance of preserving crime scenes and promptly reporting cases to the nearest police stations.
He also highlighted that the canine services provided by the police are free of charge, and the public can seek these services from the District Police Commander (DPC) or Officers in Charge (OC) of police stations.
Enanga expressed gratitude to the government, Justice, Law and Order (JLOS), and its Development Partners for their support in breeding and training police dogs.
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