By Barbara Among

THE number of Ugandans applying for guns for personal protection is increasing rapidly, according to internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja.

The minister on Monday said before 2006, the Government licenced an average of three guns in a year, but currently, his office has received about 1,000 applications.

“I have seen many young boys come to my office for guns but I have put them on hold. The number is growing very fast. There must be a reason for it,” Kivejinja said.

The minister said most of those applying for guns cite insecurity and the increased crime in the city.

Kivejinja was speaking at the launch of activities to mark the global week on gun violence.

The law allows individuals to have guns after approval by the internal affairs ministry, and subsequent training by the Police.

Efforts to get figures of how many licensed guns are in public hands were futile as the minister said he did not have the data.

Sources, however, disclosed that about 100,000 Ugandans have guns and there are seven licensed firms that import and sell guns to individuals or firms with the approval of the Police.

The minister said 80% of gun-crime in the country happens in Kampala city.
He cited Karamoja as the other volatile region, saying there were 60,000 illegal guns, of which the Government has recovered about 30,000.

“It is also of concern that some indisciplined state operatives have at times used guns to commit crime,” Kivejinja regretted.

To solve the insecurity, the minister said, the Government had increased Police presence in crime-prone areas.

He revealed that the Government is drafting a policy on small arms and light weapons. The policy will spell out standards that private security firms must adhere to if they are to be allowed to operate.

The policy will also tackle the question of arms trade and spell out more stringent measures on gun licensing, he added.

Other measures to be implemented include the marking of arms for easy tracking.

The 2010 Police report released in March revealed that 280 shooting cases were reported last year, while cases of aggravated robbery were 1,909 compared to 1,281 in 2008.