Systems to control illicit possession of fire arms

By Petride Mudoola

The Commissioner of Police and national coordinator of Focal Point on Small Arms, Ahmed Wafuba has advised regional governments to put in place measures that will help curb illicit possession of fire arms.

According to the Nairobi Protocol, the Great Lakes regions and the Horn of Africa agreed to control as well as regulate the transfer, possession, storage, disposal plus destruction of small arms and light weapons.

Despite the agreement, the region is challenged with illicit circulation of fire arms and bush armories still exist.

“Firearms are concealed in various locations by different rebel groups and individuals with hope of   using them hence end up being used to commit crime,” Wafuba said.

Wafuba was at the launch of a prison arms marking exercise held at the Prison’s staff College and training School in Luzira prison on Wednesday, and over 2000 firearms were marked.

“Internal conflicts, poverty and inadequate capacity for some states to control their borders have contributed to illicit possession of small arms and light weapons in the region,” Wafuba observed.

His call is for the need to prevent trafficking, excessive accumulation and eradication of illegal manufacture of such weapons.

Meanwhile the Commissioner in charge of inspectorate at the prison’s headquarters, Wycliffe Kururagyire requested government to consider labeling all the bullets so as to restrict illegitimate access to rifles.

“Much as the arms marking system is in place, security organizations still face a challenge of identifying bullets used by specific groups just in case certain weapons happen to be implicated in crime,” the commissioner observed.

Once considered, the idea will help authorities investigating crime to recognize the origin of the bullets hence reduce unlawful possession of rifles, Kururagyire predicted.