Members of Parliament have raised concerns over a Shs20,000 fee allegedly charged by the Uganda Police Force for dog tracking services used in criminal investigations.
The matter emerged during a meeting of a parliamentary committee overseeing government operations at the Parliament of Uganda, where legislators questioned police officials about the legality and justification of the charge.
MPs argued that dog tracking is a core investigative function of the police and should therefore be offered to the public free of charge. They noted that citizens who report crimes should not be required to pay for services that are part of the police’s mandate to investigate and prevent crime.
The concerns follow complaints from members of the public who say they have been asked to pay the Shs20,000 fee when requesting assistance from police canine units to track suspects involved in theft and other crimes.
Officials from the Uganda Police Force told the committee that they would look into the matter to determine why such charges are being imposed and whether they are authorized.
Legislators emphasized that if the fee is being charged without clear legal backing, it should be stopped to ensure that all citizens can access police services without financial barriers.
