Locals in Gombe division in Nansana Municipality are worried about the increasing stray dog attacks on people and their domestic animals in Wakiso district.

According to the locals, these stray dogs are not vaccinated and are left by their owners to loiter around in various villages and, in the long run, start attacking and biting people, leaving them severely injured or admitted to the hospital.

They added that they no longer sleep at night because they have to protect their domestic animals from being attacked by these stray dogs, most especially in the villages of Gombe, Kavule, Samba, Busikili, Bujagala, and Kiwewa in Wakiso district.

’’These stray dogs not only attack people, but they also attack and bite domestic animals, leaving them with rabies or, at times, killing them on the spot,” the locals disclosed.

During an interview with journalists on October 10, 2024, a local called Yususf Kiyemba disclosed that he has spent 3 weeks in the hospital after being attacked and bitten by stray dogs that he found in his compound.

Kiyemba added that he is so worried and annoyed that even up to now these dogs still come to his compound despite calling out the owners to lock them up during the daytime.

’’These dogs need to be eliminated because they recently attacked young school-going children, were left badly injured, and are currently in the hospital nursing their wounds,’’ Kiyemba revealed.

Kiyemba further stated that these dogs move in a pack of 3–6, hence making their attacks brutal whenever bitten.

The LC III Chairman of Gombe Division, Ronald Kasirivu Kabwengula, disclosed that they have tried to eliminate these stray dogs, but to their dismay, they keep increasing in numbers.

Kabwengula added that the local leaders have continuously urged the dog owners to lock up their dogs during the day in their kennels, all in vain.

’’Nansana Municipality Council kills these stray dogs every year; however, this year the funds for this exercise have not yet been released,’’ Kabwengula noted.

He added that this year six villages out of 53 have been selected for the elimination of stray dogs exercise, but the money is not available, hence his plea for the bigger authorities and government to intervene into this matter before it becomes worse.

In 2024, there have been concerning reports regarding deaths and serious injuries caused by stray dog attacks in Kampala and other surrounding districts, underscoring the critical need for local authorities to implement effective management strategies for stray dog populations to safeguard public health and safety.

In Uganda, an average of 14,865 dog bites and 36 rabies deaths were registered annually between 2015 and 2020, according to information obtained from the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH).