By Simon Masaba

Directors of Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Directorates (CIID) in the East African region on Monday resolved to support Somalia to neutralise gun trafficking across the region.

The directors said arms traffickers were taking advantage of Somalia’s instability and location next to the sea.

The Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said Somalia, which is now a reconstructed state, is ready to halt and thrash all culprits in gun trafficking across the region.

Kayihura was addressing the 12 heads of CIID under the East African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation at Munyonyo.

He said traffickers pass guns through Somalia, then northern Kenya before entering the Karamoja region.

“Through the Kenya-Uganda, co-peration, the vice was neutralised. Traffickers then found a route through Sudan, then South Sudan to Uganda. However, to kill the whole process of gun trafficking, Somalia has been brought on board to kill the sea route access,” Kayihura said.

Kayihura added: “The Democratic Republic of Congo has been alerted since it borders many states across the region and this will help completely fight the vice.”

Kayihura also noted that Uganda’s celebration of 50 years of independence is an indication that Africans can solve their problems, like they have done in Somalia.

He, however, noted that the region still faces challenges, especially terrorism and some riots. Kayihura also added that youth unemployment is not only in Uganda but across the region.

Speaking at the same function, the Rwandan commissioner of Police, Christopher Bizimungu, said the directors have come up with the issuance of motor vehicle certificates to curb theft.

“Motor Vehicle thefts have been rampant but with improvement in the dissemination of criminal intelligence, stolen cars will not be sold within the region since all the borders will be notified of the stolen cars,” Bizimungu said.