POLICE | CRIME | K9 UNIT 

KARAMOJA - The Commandant Police K9 Unit, Commissioner of Police (CP) Martin Mugume, together with the Commandant Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) (CP) Elias Kasirabo started sensitizing the communities in Karamoja on the use of police sniffer dogs in fighting crime. 

This follows the decision by police to widen deployment of sniffer dogs to 9 districts in Karamoja.

According to Mugume, the K9 Unit is deploying in the Karamoja sub-region to help in the fight against crime. 

“The Canine unit will expand to the 9 districts of Karamoja and other 9districts that neighbor Karamoja. With this kind of deployment, the police Canine unit will contribute greatly towards fighting criminality in the region,” Mugume said. 

He also noted that the K9 Unit is also expanding to other districts of Lamwo, Otuke, Katakwi, Kapelebyong, Bukedea, Kween, Bukwo, Agago and Bulambuli. 

“Since most of the people that commit crime move on foot, it will be easy to track them down using sniffer dogs,” Mugume said. 

According to the Annual Police report of 2021/2022 the K9 dogs found a total of 8,154 suspects wanted by the authorities over a range of crimes committed including theft, murder and missing persons. 

The K9 evidence was used against 2, 931 who were taken to court and 1, 155 were convicted. 

The K9 also helped security agencies recover 3,750 exhibits that were used in court. 

The deployment of the K9 in Karamoja comes at a point in time when security agencies in the area have been fighting a new wave of crime involving cattle rustlers who have been raiding and stealing animals.