Following the distress call of a local volunteer, OIPA came to know about the statement of the Wakiso Town Council dated 28 November 2022, that has announced the killing of stray dogs and cats loitering in the town on 1st December.
The notice signed by the Wakiso Town Council principal township officer, Mr. Livigstone Kasibante, clearly stated: “This is to inform you that Wakiso Town Council is going to kill dogs and cats loitering in all its wards (STRAY PETS) on the night of Thursday 1/12/2022. You are requested to tie up or lock up your animals up to 2/12/2022 at 4:00 PM,” the notice read.
OIPA International immediately expressed concern addressing a letter (read: letter to Wakiso Town Council_OIPA ) to the Town Council on 30 November asking to immediately reconsider the decision of killing stray animals and start working on alternative and ethical methods, internationally recognized, to handle dog and cat population.
The decision of the Council has to be considered against the Animals Prevention of Cruelty Act – section 2, in the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, which states: “any person who kills any animal in an unnecessarily cruel manner or cruelly beats, kicks, ill-treats, overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures or infuriates any animal, commits an offence of cruelty within the meaning of this Act and is liable on convict.”
Our request remained unanswered.
