U G A N D A C O U N T R Y R E P O R T
REPORTING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM OF ACTION (UNPoA) TO PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN ALL ITS ASPECTS AT THE 4TH BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES 14TH -18TH JUNE 2010 – NEW YORK.
1. NATIONAL POINT OF CONTACT
The Uganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NFP) besides being the National-Coordinating Agency on all matters related to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is also the National Point of Contact on the Implementation of the UNPoA and other Regional and International Instruments. Among the core functions of the NFP, is the mandate to exchange inter-state information and good practices regarding SALW and co-ordination of the formulation of National Policy as well as the national strategy to combat and eradicate the proliferation of illicit of SALW.
2. DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY AND BILL TO AMMEND THE 1970 FIREARMS ACT
The Nationwide consultations with all stake-holders to obtain views and input into the Draft Policy and Bill have been completed. This new Bill will replace the 1970 Firearms Act and align it with the provisions of all international instruments (including the UNPoA) that Uganda is a party to that provide stringent measures for regulation of import, export, transport, transit, brokering, possession, transfer etc….. of SALW. The draft policy has been forwarded to the responsible Minister for consideration. The draft bill that seeks to repeal the existing firearm act is being developed.
3. UNODA/INTERPOL CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENT TO ENABLE STATES TO IDENFITY AND TRACE IN A TIMELY MANNER, ILLICIT SALW 10 – 11 DECEMBER, 2007
Uganda was represented at the above captioned Workshop and has been implementing the recommendations arising there from. Two contact persons (one within the NFP and another from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) were designated to be responsible for the timely preparation and submission of Country Reports in respect of the UNPoA and the ITI.
4. NATIONAL MARKING, RECORD KEEPING AND TRACING OF STOCKPILE
As part of the UNPoA and ITI implementation in Uganda, a national Firearms Marking exercise is ongoing beginning with firearms under Uganda Police and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces. The exercise will soon roll out to include the other units of the Armed Forces. It is envisaged that all legitimately held SALW will ultimately be marked for ease of identification, tracing and management. The exercise is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nairobi Protocol after acquiring two Electronic Marking Machines from the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA). The markings on the gun include RECSA Code, Country and Institution codes, and firearm serial number.
5. COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS SALW
Uganda continues to implement collection and disposal measures and has, since 2008 disposed of 523 tons of redundant EOD and 4700 pieces of recovered illicit SALW in collaboration with Uganda Peoples Defense Forces and Uganda Police Force at public events including the 10th anniversary of the EAC which was presided over by the President of Uganda and the Prime Minister of Rwanda. Currently a country wide firearms stocktaking exercise is being conducted in the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces to determine surplus stocks, un-serviceable and de-commissioned SALW for disposal. This stocktaking exercise also aims at identifying key elements for the improvement of storage of firearms in State possession.
6. ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
The CSO’s continue to be an integral implementation partner of the NFP and have continuously participated in implementation of strategies to combat the proliferation of illicit SALW. In 2008 and 2009 CSO’s have actively participated in public education and awareness raising activities on several issues on SALW. As part of their awareness activities and because of their proximity to the community, they have managed to build support for small arms activities and have in fact facilitated the recovery of small arms through voluntary surrender especially in northern Uganda. CSO’s have also participated in capacity building of District Task Forces formed to implement action at district level. They are now currently working closely with the NFP to unroll nationwide sensitization campaign.
7. RESEARCH
Following the researcher’s workshop on Small Arms and Human Security in April, 2008 in association with RECSA and Institute of Security Studies (ISS), a Net work of researchers was formed and in a follow-up workshop in November 2008, a work plan was also agreed together with key topics for research.
8. DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND RE-INTEGRATION
Within the context of the current National Peace, Reconstruction and Development Programme for Northern and Karamoja Regions of Uganda, the NFP is mandated to develop, coordinate and monitor weapons collection activities. With the northern insurgency coming to an end, the enforcement of the comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) would have provided the NFP with the opportunity to conduct weapons collection activities through surrender or recoveries from the ex-combatants. However, in the Karamoja region, the UPDF led disarmament exercise of the armed Karamajong warriors (Tribes men) in North-Eastern has led to collection of over Twenty Eight Thousand (28,000) illicit SALW to date.
9. AWARENESS RAISING
The NFP has conducted extensive sensitization activities to different target groups on different aspects of small arms issues and the implementation process. In Partnership with CSO’s, a number of awareness activities were conducted in Northern, Karamoja, and Mid Eastern Regions targeting District officials and community representatives on the small arms programme and their role in the implementation proces.
10. CAPACITY BUILDING
The NFP has conducted a number of training programmes that promote competencies of Law Enforcement Agencies in management of SALW and meaningfully contribute to the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). In 2008 and 2009, the NFP conducted training programmes for District officials on aspects of Small Arms; in addition the NFP established District Task Forces in three Regions in Uganda and is soon to conduct similar exercises in all other Regions. NFP has also conducted training of Senior Officers and Supervisors as well as Armory officers from the Armed Forces in elements of stockpile management in addition to training middle level managers in Physical Stockpile Security and management. Uganda also undertook training of officers from Law Enforcement Agencies in Marking and Tracing; in collaboration with the International Mine Action Center in Nairobi.
11. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL FIREARMS REGISTRY
The NFP in collaboration with respective institutions is undertaking firearms stocktaking exercise to establish verifiable data on SALW stockpiles in State possession. The data will be used for development of an electronic Central Firearm Register (CFR). So far NFP has acquired an assortment of equipment to facilitate the setup of the CFR within Uganda Police. A Firearm Information Management System has also been developed and is now ready for deployment to make the CFR operational. The NFP is also planning to organize a series of trainings for officers responsible for managing the CFR.
12. CONFLICT EARLY WARNING AND EARLY RESPONSE UNIT
The NFP is also responsible for implementation of the Conflict Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism (CEWARN) Protocol of the IGAD Region which mandated NFP to institute measures for Conflict Early Warning and Early Response. Under this programme the NFP is responsible for developing strategies for mitigating pastoral conflicts and related issues in the Karamoja cluster. The NFP has been able to set up District structures (District Peace Committees) in the Karamoja region responsible for these mitigation measures.
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