Minister calls for restrictions on acid
Oct 26, 2008
THE internal affairs state minister, Matia Kasaija, has warned that uncontrolled availability of acid could facilitate the making of home-made bombs.
By Caroline Batenga
THE internal affairs state minister, Matia Kasaija, has warned that uncontrolled availability of acid could facilitate the making of home-made bombs.
“If acid is not controlled, it will result into home-made bombs and explosives, which will end up in the hands of terrorists. This is a serious national security threat which needs urgent intervention,†he said.
The warning was contained in a speech read by Ali Lugudo, the acting commissioner of the Government Analytical Laboratory, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala on Friday.
The meeting was organised by the Acid Survivors Foundation to create awareness on acid and devise ways of regulating the availability of corrosive chemicals.
Kasaija urged the public to participate in preventing acid violence, ensuring peace and protecting people’s lives and property.
“We do not know what weapon the terrorists are going to use,†Lugudo said, adding that acid is corrosive but law enforcement bodies had not done much to regulate its availability.
Asan Kasingye, the commissioner of Police in charge of community affairs, said some people were poisoning water sources and food in schools so as to create contempt for the Government.
“We do not want to alarm the public on the poisoning,†he said, but declined to reveal the schools that had been affected. “But we have written to schools to regulate foodstuffs taken to students, especially on visitation days.â€
He said Masindi district has the most cases of acid violence, though the causes of the attacks were not clear.
The Acid Survivors’ Foundation Uganda has registered 327 acid violence cases.
Females are the most affected victims, with the majority aged between 25 and 34. Most cases were registered in the central region.
THE internal affairs state minister, Matia Kasaija, has warned that uncontrolled availability of acid could facilitate the making of home-made bombs.
“If acid is not controlled, it will result into home-made bombs and explosives, which will end up in the hands of terrorists. This is a serious national security threat which needs urgent intervention,†he said.
The warning was contained in a speech read by Ali Lugudo, the acting commissioner of the Government Analytical Laboratory, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala on Friday.
The meeting was organised by the Acid Survivors Foundation to create awareness on acid and devise ways of regulating the availability of corrosive chemicals.
Kasaija urged the public to participate in preventing acid violence, ensuring peace and protecting people’s lives and property.
“We do not know what weapon the terrorists are going to use,†Lugudo said, adding that acid is corrosive but law enforcement bodies had not done much to regulate its availability.
Asan Kasingye, the commissioner of Police in charge of community affairs, said some people were poisoning water sources and food in schools so as to create contempt for the Government.
“We do not want to alarm the public on the poisoning,†he said, but declined to reveal the schools that had been affected. “But we have written to schools to regulate foodstuffs taken to students, especially on visitation days.â€
He said Masindi district has the most cases of acid violence, though the causes of the attacks were not clear.
The Acid Survivors’ Foundation Uganda has registered 327 acid violence cases.
Females are the most affected victims, with the majority aged between 25 and 34. Most cases were registered in the central region.