The Fear of rabies and a growing number of dog attacks have pushed residents and local authorities in Elegu Town Council, Amuru District, to resort to poisoning stray dogs, sparking concern over the risks the practice poses to people, other animals and the environment.
More than 30 stray dogs have reportedly been poisoned in six villages in the border town in recent weeks, as
residents grapple with what local leaders describe as a rapidly growing population of stray dogs.
The killings come amid reports of more than a dozen dog bites in the area over the past two months and the deaths of three children who are suspected to have contracted rabies after being bitten by stray dogs.
Francis Eburuku, the Elegu Town Council Chairperson, confirmed that he instructed some Local Council I
chairpersons to poison stray dogs, saying the decision was taken as an emergency measure after a planned vaccination exercise was delayed.
“When the issues of dog bites became so serious, I called some of the LCI to kill some of the stray dogs
because there was a programme of vaccination, but the date set by the district was not followed. They postponed it to the 19th of this month. As we wait for it, we have seen that there was an urgent need to at least kill some of these dogs,” Eburuku told Uganda Radio Network on Tuesday.
Eburuku estimates that more than 200 stray dogs are roaming Elegu Town Council, with the highest number of
poisonings reported in Lorikor West Village, one of the town council’s most densely populated areas. Other cases have been reported in Lorikor East, Bibia West, Bibia East, Kaladima East and Kaladima West villages.
He said the decision followed a series of dog attacks, particularly in Lorikor West, and warned that the
situation had become increasingly difficult for residents. According to him, three children died in August after being bitten by stray dogs.
The first fatality was recorded early last month when a boy estimated to be between nine and 10 years old was
attacked by a stray dog in Elegu Town Council. He was taken to a health facility in Adjumani District, where he died while receiving treatment for suspected rabies.
A second victim, a 14-year-old boy, was reportedly bitten in Elegu before being taken to a health facility in
Malakia, South Sudan. He later died. The third victim was also a child who was initially taken to Adjumani for treatment before being returned to Elegu, where he subsequently died from suspected rabies. The reported deaths have heightened fears among residents, who say the presence of stray dogs has become a public
health concern.
Eburuku, however, said poisoning was intended only as a temporary measure while authorities waited for a
district-wide vaccination exercise and called for urgent intervention from the Amuru District veterinary department to vaccinate dogs and cats across Elegu Town Council. He added that the lack of access to anti-rabies vaccines had left residents struggling to respond to dog bites.
But the decision to poison the dogs has drawn strong criticism from animal welfare advocates, who argue that
the method could create additional risks rather than solve the problem.
Francis Okello Oloya, the officer in charge of the Comfort Dog Project and Education Programme at Big Fix Uganda, an organisation working for the welfare of pets in Northern Uganda, described the poisoning as both inhumane and unsafe.
“We strongly condemn the poisoning of stray dogs and cats in the strongest possible terms. That is not
the way to handle the situation,” Oloya said.
He questioned whether authorities had carried out adequate safety assessments before using poison and whether measures had been put in place to prevent people, livestock, wildlife and other animals from being exposed to the chemicals.
The concern is particularly significant in a densely populated border community were poisoned animals
could potentially be accessed by children, domestic animals or wildlife.
Oloya said Big Fix Uganda had instead responded to a request from the Amuru District local government by
beginning vaccination campaigns in communities identified as hotspots for dog bites. The organisation is working in Layima and Pabbo sub-counties and Pogo Sub-county, which borders Adjumani Sub-county.
By August 29, Oloya said, the organisation had vaccinated 521 dogs in Olamjungu, Olinga and Nyakagoro
villages in Pogo Sub-county. Another 120 dogs had been vaccinated at Te Olam Centre and Omer 2 Village in Layima Sub-county.
Oloya urged local authorities to prioritise vaccination, responsible dog ownership and proper management of
stray animals rather than resorting to uncontrolled poisoning. He says that the solution is to use humane and scientifically guided methods to control the dog population and prevent rabies.
Up to 43 dog-bite cases have been recorded in Amuru District over the past two months, according to records from the veterinary department.
The records show four cases in Pabbo Sub-county, five in Pabbo Town Council, 10 in Atiak Sub-county, seven in
Elegu Town Council, 12 in Pogo Sub-county, two in Amuru Sub-county and three in Layima Sub-county. However, the veterinary department figures do not capture all the cases cited by local authorities, suggesting that the actual number of dog attacks could be higher-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
