NEWS– The increased criminal cases in Kanungu district have forced the Uganda Police Force UPF to equip its station in the district with a sniffer dog to combat the rising concerns from the public.
Kwesima Gabriel, the officer from the Police Sniffer Dog Unit, told the press that the dog has been trained to detect various substances including explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood and contraband electronics like illicit mobile phones.
This capability according to Kwesima will assist in identifying criminals, especially those involved in theft and murder, through the dog’s keen sense of smell.
Kutosi Titus, the Kanungu District Police Commander (DPC) urged residents to cooperate with the police in utilizing this sniffer dog effectively highlighting that the district has been experiencing a shortage of police personnel, which this canine unit, stationed at the Central Police Station (CPS), will help mitigate.
Kutosi also emphasized the importance of preserving crime scenes when the dogs are deployed, stressing that these sniffers work closely with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers to be effective.
The sniffer dog received a warm welcome from Kanungu Town Council local leaders, led by Lord Mayor Godfrey Karabenda. Karabenda noted that since the district experienced the tragic Kibwetere cult inferno in 2000, there has been a significant need for such specialized dogs.
He praised the government for this crucial addition to the district’s resources.
The event was also attended by the speaker of Kanungu Town Council, LC1 chairpersons of nearby cells, and the media.
