Police say the suspects confessed that the meat was intended for sale to unsuspecting customers, allegedly disguised as roasted goat meat.
Police in Mubende Municipality have arrested two suspects and recovered four slaughtered dog carcasses in an operation targeting the illegal meat trade along the busy Kampala–Mubende–Fort Portal highway.
The discovery was made in the early hours of Saturday during a routine police patrol. Officers became suspicious after a motorcycle carrying two passengers reportedly ignored instructions to stop at a checkpoint and instead attempted to speed away.
A brief chase ensued before the suspects were apprehended. Upon searching a large polythene bag they were transporting, officers, led by Police Constable Paul Nkugwa, uncovered four dog carcasses hidden inside.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the meat was allegedly being transported to roadside vendors within Mubende Municipality. Police say the suspects confessed that the meat was intended for sale to unsuspecting customers, allegedly disguised as roasted goat meat.
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According to investigators, the suspects further revealed that the operation had been ongoing for some time. They allegedly trapped stray dogs from neighbouring communities, slaughtered them, and supplied the meat to traders operating food stalls along the highway.
The Kampala–Mubende–Fort Portal route is popular with travellers, many of whom frequently stop at roadside markets to buy roasted meat and other refreshments.
The suspects are currently being held as police widen investigations to establish whether other individuals are involved in the suspected network.
Authorities say the suspects could face charges related to animal cruelty and unlawful harm to animals under Uganda’s laws. Police have also cautioned members of the public against consuming meat from unverified sources, warning that the sale of uninspected meat poses significant health risks.
Investigations are ongoing.
