_______________

KATAKWI - Katakwi district authorities have announced plans to kill stray dogs, which they say are suspected of being infected with rabies.

The development follows the death of two people two months ago after they were bitten by stray dogs infected with rabies. Also, more than six people are nursing injuries sustained as a result of being bitten by infected dogs.

Katakwi district veterinary officer Dr Ariko Onyait on March 27, 2024, said they are ready for this move after completing the vaccination of 8,000 dogs against rabies.

“We established that we still have stray dogs that pose a risk of infecting already vaccinated dogs and attacking our people,” Onyait said.

The exercise meant to begin next month will start with radio sensitisation.

With 8,000 dogs vaccinated, Katakwi has the highest number of vaccinated dogs in Teso region.

“On average, each family in Katakwi has three dogs. There is one family with 16 dogs and they keep them as part of security since the raiders always attack them at night,” Ariko said.

Overall, 14.4% of the households in Uganda owned dogs as of the 2008 animal census.

Regional analysis shows that in the Eastern region about a tenth of the households (11.2%) owned dogs, while in the Karamoja region about a quarter (26.9%) of the households owned dogs.

It was then estimated that Uganda had 1.6 million dogs.