Katikkiro Mayiga condemns use of dogs on supporters, calls for police professionalism

Kampala, Uganda: Buganda Kingdom Premier Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga has condemned the renewed use of police dogs on political supporters, warning that such forceful tactics undermine public trust and have no place in a democratic campaign environment.

In a statement released on Thursday morning, Katikkiro Mayiga sharply criticised the use of excessive force, including tear gas, bullets and police dogs, moments after videos circulated showing canine officers setting dogs on supporters of NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi in Kawempe on Monday.

“Ensure supporters don’t harm others, but let them be. Bullets; tear gas; dogs! These make the Pearl of Africa bleed!” he warned.

“If the State permits its law-enforcement agencies to unleash living creatures of political coercion, and to arrest innocent bystanders, what does it say about the rule of law in our country?” he said. “Such intimidation tactics are unacceptable in a democratic state.”

Mayiga urged police and other security agencies to enforce law and order with professionalism, restraint and absolute neutrality, saying the events witnessed this week in Kampala were unacceptable.

“Once again, I urge police and security agencies to keep law and order in a non-violent and non-partisan manner during this campaign period,” the Katikkiro said. He added that it was unrealistic to expect political rallies to resemble church gatherings, noting that campaigns naturally come with excitement.

“It’s unrealistic to ban processions of supporters. Political rallies are not prayer meetings to which worshippers go calmly,” he said. “And with Uganda’s public transport system, especially boda bodas, it’s unrealistic to expect supporters to move to campaign venues quietly.”

Mayiga’s appeal adds to growing calls for security agencies to abandon coercive crowd-control methods and to treat all supporters and candidates fairly as the 2026 campaign season intensifies.

Human rights groups and legal experts also condemned the incident, calling it a return to dangerous policing practices previously abandoned for inflicting serious injuries on civilians.

The Uganda Police Force had dropped the use of canines in protests in 2007 after a dog bit a photojournalist during a demonstration in Kampala, prompting journalists to protest and forcing then-IGP Gen Kale Kayihura to halt the deployments.

Despite that history, canine units have returned to campaign policing this year, with dogs trained to latch onto suspects and hold them until handlers intervene, often leaving victims with severe injuries.