Police dogs during the passout

Tension in police as 'mafia' push for lucrative sniffer dog contracts

by · The Observer

Tension is mounting within the Uganda Police Force as influential and powerful individuals in the government lobby for a return to the use of private companies to supply sniffer dogs.

The push comes despite a 2010 administrative decision to establish the Naggalama breeding centre in Mukono district, allowing the police to breed and train its own sniffer dogs, thereby cutting down the exorbitant costs previously incurred through private suppliers.

The Naggalama centre has proven highly cost-effective, with the police spending only about Shs 7 million to breed and nurture each dog, representing a cost reduction of nearly 80 per cent. In comparison, before the establishment of the centre, the force spent over $10,000 (around Shs 37 million) per dog, importing them from countries like the US, UK, Germany, and South Africa. Many of these imported dogs failed to adapt to Uganda's climate, resulting in early deaths and financial losses.

For example, M/S Plough (U) Limited proposed supplying two anti-narcotic sniffer dogs for $43,470 (about Shs 159.9 million), with an additional charge for handler training. Police officials have consistently rejected such offers, asserting that their internal breeding program is far more sustainable.

"We chose to breed our own dogs to reduce the exorbitant costs incurred from purchasing them abroad. Now, some individuals are pushing to return to the costly system we've managed to minimize for nearly 10 years," a senior police officer, who requested anonymity, revealed.

Some of the private companies seeking to supply sniffer dogs reportedly have links to influential figures in government and business. At Entebbe International Airport, for instance, police canine units have saved the government over Shs 600 million annually by replacing private dog contracts.

Previously, a private company supplied sniffer dogs to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for Shs 58 million per month, equating to Shs 696 million annually. Since the police took over, deploying 30 sniffer dogs free of charge, the government has saved over Shs 2 billion in the last three years.

The decision to breed sniffer dogs locally was also influenced by failures in private canine services. A private company offering explosive detection dogs at the airport failed a joint test conducted by police, special forces, and counter-terrorism units, leading to the termination of its contract.

"I want to emphasize that the police force has been struggling with insufficient funding. In the last quarter of the previous financial year, some directorates received as little as Shs 10 million or less to run their activities. Where would we get money to pay for costly private canine services?" a senior police officer explained.

President Museveni has publicly commended the police's canine unit for saving over Shs 600 million annually by eliminating the need for private services. Several companies, including NMF Kennels, have had their proposals rejected, with the police insisting that their Naggalama breeding centre can meet all their canine needs at a fraction of the cost.

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