The Uganda Police Force has launched 10 new specialized vehicles to strengthen its Canine Unit and improve the speed and effectiveness of crime detection and response across the country.
The vehicles were launched by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, James Ocaya, as part of efforts to improve the operational capacity of police canine teams. The new fleet will be distributed to 10 cities during the first phase of equipping the unit.
The specialized vehicles are expected to make it easier for canine teams to reach scenes of crime quickly and carry out their duties more effectively. Police said the improved transport will also support faster deployment of trained dogs to areas where their services are needed.
Speaking during the launch, DIGP Ocaya commended the Canine Unit for its strong performance in fighting and investigating crime. He revealed that the unit had tracked more than 12,000 cases in one financial year, showing the important role played by police dogs in investigations.
According to the police leadership, about 6,000 of the cases tracked by the Canine Unit were taken to court, while more than 10,000 exhibits were recovered through its operations. The figures highlight the contribution of canine teams in helping investigators gather evidence and identify suspects.
The new vehicles have been specially customized to meet the needs of police operations. Each vehicle can carry a complete operational team made up of a canine handler, scene-of-crime officers and investigators.
This arrangement is expected to improve coordination at crime scenes because the different teams can travel together and begin their work immediately upon arrival. The vehicles will also provide better support for the dogs and their handlers during operations.
DIGP Ocaya said the new transport would allow the Canine Unit to work more efficiently and strengthen its response to crime. He added that members of the public should expect increased vigilance and faster police responses to scenes of crime as the new vehicles are deployed.
