Mayiga warned that the use of dogs in political spaces evokes troubling historical memories. He noted that similar methods were used in colonial and apartheid settings to intimidate populations, arguing that such imagery has no place in Uganda’s modern democratic context.
The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has condemned the Uganda Police for unleashing dogs at supporters of National Unity Platform’s (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu which was witnessed in Kawempe on Monday.
Katikkiro has urged the security agencies to exercise professionalism, restraint, and strict respect for constitutional rights during the ongoing election campaigns, warning that recent policing methods pose a threat to democratic practice.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms on Thursday morning, Mayiga criticized the deployment of police dogs at political rallies, describing the move as an unnecessary escalation of force that undermines public trust.
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He argued that campaign events naturally attract large, energetic crowds and should not be treated as criminal scenes.
“It is unrealistic to ban processions of supporters. Political rallies are not prayer meetings to which worshippers go calmly,” he said.
“With Uganda’s public transport and bodabodas, it is unrealistic to expect supporters to move to campaign venues quietly. Ensure supporters don’t harm others, but let them be.”
Mayiga stressed that maintaining public order must never come at the cost of citizens’ dignity or their constitutionally protected freedoms.
His comments follow widespread concern after Monday’s NUP presidential rally in Kawempe, where police deployed dogs that were seen lunging at and intimidating civilians.
Videos circulating online show the dogs appearing to be hound breeds (meant for hunting) rather than specialised sniffer or protection dogs – being used in crowd-control operations against supporters of NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine.
The deployment coincided with other aggressive crowd-dispersal measures, including pepper spray, forceful arrests, and altercations involving police vehicles.
The scenes drew heavy public criticism and reignited debate over the direction of law-enforcement tactics during political seasons.
Mayiga warned that the use of dogs in political spaces evokes troubling historical memories. He noted that similar methods were used in colonial and apartheid settings to intimidate populations, arguing that such imagery has no place in Uganda’s modern democratic context.
Katikkiro reaffirmed that the right to peaceful assembly is protected by the Constitution and insisted that security agencies must operate as neutral enforcers of public safety, not tools of political intimidation.
“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,” he said.
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