Police get 100 firearms safety boxes

PIC: Left to right: RESCA executive secretary, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka handing over arms safety boxes to the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga as the Uganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and light weapon, Wilfred Makmott Okello, Good Mwesigwa and Lieutenant Ryan Shaw look on. This was during the opening of one week training of the security enforcement at J and M Airport Road Hotel on July 11, 2016.Photos/ Ramadhan Abbey  

Following the rampant misuse of firearms by some security personnel, experts have advised on improvising proper safes for firearms as a restriction measure.

Early this month, a soldier shot dead two fellow soldiers at Masaka Armoury Brigade, while another army officer Sergeant Isaac Obua killed seven people at the Makindye Military Barracks before he was shot dead.

The state minister of internal affairs, Mario Obiga attributed the recent rampant shooting by security personnel to poor storage and uncontrolled use of firearms.

He said our forces need training to avert such scenarios to protect people's lives.

Obiga made the remarks at the Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) training course of security forces, which ended on Thursday in Entebbe.

It was attended by over 30 officers from Uganda People's Defence Forces UPDF), Uganda Policed Force (UPF) and Uganda Prisons Service (UPS).

Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga poses for a group photo with security instructors during the opening of the one-week training of the security enforcement on small fire arms.

 
The training was supported by the U.S. Government and Regional Centre on Small Arms (RESCA), facilitated by officials from RESCA and officers from Rwanda, and Kenya among others.

RESCA and the U.S. handed over 100 firearms boxes worth sh100m and each boxes weighs 500kgs.

The coordinator for National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Police, Wilfred Makmot Okello, said poor storage of firearms has led to misuse of guns by some security personnel, stressing that there is need to impart such knowledge among officers to know the dangers of poor storage.

"Today we have about 112 police stations and many posts and army detaches. Many of these lack proper facilities and officers leave guns with their wives in their small houses. They just pick it anyhow without the knowledge of the heads. This must change," he noted.

The Police deputy director Logistics and Engineering, Good Mwesigwa said they want to make sure all security forces get safe custody for their firearms for safety.

RESCA executive secretary, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, said each the boxes will help to promote safety and security of fire arms.

The deputy police spokesperson, Polly Namaye said they are going to start regional trainings for all officers to gain knowledge.