Govt to computerise firearms registration

By Joan Mugenzi UGANDA’s armed forces are in the process of registering and computerising records of firearms.This was revealed yesterday by the first deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, Eriya Kategaya, at the opening of a three-day workshop on small arms and light weapons in Uganda, at Hotel Triangle in Jinja. “Measures have been taken to strengthen control of police firearms to ensure greater accountability and effective monitoring of movement and tracing of firearms. “UPDF, the Chieftancy of Military Intelligence (CMI), ISO and ESO are also going through the same process,” Kategaya saidThe workshop was aimed at awareness among stakeholders on the effect of small arms and light weapons on communities.“It is our desire to see that all firearms in Uganda and other countries are accounted for and that they are within a system of control and regulation,” he said.The assistant commissioner of police, Richard Nabudere, told the New Vision that firearm records had been scattered. He said registration and computerisation of records started with the police in October.“We are also recording firearms for Local government administration, private security organisations,” Nabudere said.