Petition to the Ministry of Health and Local Government Authorities of Uganda 

We, the undersigned citizens of Acholi, raise our voices in urgent concern.

Every day, stray dogs roam our streets and villages, biting children, mothers, and the vulnerable. At the Regional Veterinary Office, records show an average of 5 to 10 dog bite cases daily — and half of these victims are children.

Rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms appear. Yet when we take our loved ones to government hospitals, the answer is too often: “Go to the clinics, buy the drugs, and bring them to us.”

The full course of post‑exposure vaccine costs UGX 180,000, a price far beyond the reach of most families. Survival should not be sold at such a price.

We remind government that stray dogs are a public responsibility. If the state owns the problem, the state must own the solution. Free post‑exposure vaccines in local hospitals are not charity — they are justice, they are survival.

We therefore petition that:

• Provide free post‑exposure rabies vaccines at all local government hospitals.
• Ensure consistent supply so no victim is turned away.
• Launch stray dog control programmes to reduce bites and rabies risk.
• Educate communities on immediate wound care and the importance of vaccination.

We sign this petition not only for ourselves, but for the children who cannot speak, for the poor who cannot pay, and for the vulnerable who cannot fight alone.

Once a community decides to protect life, government must act.