Army decries illegal arms from South Sudan
Apr 25, 2007
THE army is concerned about the increase of illegal small arms from southern Sudan to northern Uganda and Karamoja region. Lt. Chris Magezi, the army’s northern spokesperson, told journalists at Acholi Inn on Friday that they have failed to control the flow of illegal arms because of the vast bord
By Chris Ocowun
THE army is concerned about the increase of illegal small arms from southern Sudan to northern Uganda and Karamoja region. Lt. Chris Magezi, the army’s northern spokesperson, told journalists at Acholi Inn on Friday that they have failed to control the flow of illegal arms because of the vast border.
“You cannot deploy forces from Koboko to Karamoja to monitor the flow of the arms which are being smuggled into Uganda from Toposa and southern Sudan It is difficult to estimate the number of small guns entering Uganda because no one is monitoring them.â€
Magezi added that the guns, including those left by the LRA rebels in their armouries and caves in the bush end up in the hands of civilians.
“Our mission as UPDF after this LRA insurgency is over will be to recover all the small arms in the hands of the public. The Government is drafting a tougher law on small arms trafficking,†Magezi affirmed. He added that the problem needs to be addressed regionally.
Magezi advised people with illegal guns to hand them over to the army before they are arrested.
He explained that a disarmament exercise like the one going on in Karamoja to recover illegal guns would be introduced in the Acholi region.
A new comprehensive firearms policy to replace the current Firearms Act, which will soon be tabled in Parliament.
THE army is concerned about the increase of illegal small arms from southern Sudan to northern Uganda and Karamoja region. Lt. Chris Magezi, the army’s northern spokesperson, told journalists at Acholi Inn on Friday that they have failed to control the flow of illegal arms because of the vast border.
“You cannot deploy forces from Koboko to Karamoja to monitor the flow of the arms which are being smuggled into Uganda from Toposa and southern Sudan It is difficult to estimate the number of small guns entering Uganda because no one is monitoring them.â€
Magezi added that the guns, including those left by the LRA rebels in their armouries and caves in the bush end up in the hands of civilians.
“Our mission as UPDF after this LRA insurgency is over will be to recover all the small arms in the hands of the public. The Government is drafting a tougher law on small arms trafficking,†Magezi affirmed. He added that the problem needs to be addressed regionally.
Magezi advised people with illegal guns to hand them over to the army before they are arrested.
He explained that a disarmament exercise like the one going on in Karamoja to recover illegal guns would be introduced in the Acholi region.
A new comprehensive firearms policy to replace the current Firearms Act, which will soon be tabled in Parliament.