Stray
dogs have invaded several villages in the Kikuube district, attacking and
killing domestic animals. According to livestock farmers, eight sheep and two
goats have been attacked and killed by these stray dogs within just one week. The
most affected villages are Nyairongo, Kyarushesha, and Kaseeta, which are
located in Kyangwali and Kabwoya sub-counties.
Farmers
in these areas report that the dogs have become a significant threat not only
to their livestock but also to human safety. They have noted the presence of
these stray dogs over the past two weeks, during which time the animals have
continued to attack and kill their livestock.
Peter
Kyomukama, a resident of Kyarushesha village, shared that on Sunday night,
stray dogs raided his farm, killing two sheep and critically injuring four
others. Christine Nayebare, a goat farmer in Nyairongo village, recounted that
her two goats were killed by stray dogs last week. She emphasized that
residents are also at risk of being attacked by these dogs.
Stephen
Bizimungu, another resident, mentioned that he lost two sheep to stray dogs and urged dog owners in the area to ensure their pets are
vaccinated. Desire
Nkuruzinza, the LC1 Chairperson of Nyairongo village, reported that attacks by
stray dogs on domestic animals have become alarmingly frequent. He noted that
many dogs in the area are unvaccinated, increasing the risk of rabies spreading
in the community.
//Cue in: “Embwa zi sazire…
Cue out:…nukwo mbaire nisaba.”//
Nkuruzinza
has called upon the Kikuube District Veterinary Department to intervene
promptly and address the issue of stray dogs in the area. When contacted,
Barnabas Ntume, the Senior Production Officer for Kikuube District, stated that
he had not been informed about the attacks on livestock by stray dogs but
promised to investigate the matter.
In
August 2021, authorities in Kagadi Town Council killed 32 stray dogs following
public outcry. These dogs were eliminated using DAIT poison, which was placed
around garbage dumping sites. Officials had claimed that the stray dogs were
becoming a menace, particularly threatening children and residents with
livestock, due to their unvaccinated status and the likelihood of spreading diseases.
