Uganda. 2003 ‘Weapons Collection.’ National Report of Uganda on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA); Section 4.1. New York, NY: Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations. 1 June

Relevant contents

4.1 Weapons Collection

Collection of illicit weapons is an ongoing activity through the law enforcement
and security activities of the police, the military and other security agencies. In addition, targeted joint operations have been conducted which have resulted in the collection of sizeable quantities of illicit arms.

A joint task force involving police, the military and intelligence agencies, set up in early 2002 to tackle increased spate of armed crime, led to the recovery of hundreds of firearms, the majority of which were AK-47 submachine guns. Dozens of armed criminals were arrested and their gangs dismantled.

A disarmament programme carried out by the Government of Uganda (GoU) in
the Karamoja Region of North Eastern Uganda recovered over 10,000 firearms.
The Karamoja Region is estimated to harbour over 40,000 firearms in unlawful
possession. These arms are used in cattle raiding which has brought devastating
effects on human security, stability and livelihoods of the Karamojong and the
neighbouring communities.

On 15th June 2002 the Government of Uganda signed a peace agreement with a rebel group known as Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II), which led to the cessation of hostilities and the handover to government by the UNRFII of all arms and ammunitions in its possession, the dissolution of the UNRFII, and provided for the demobilisation, reintegration and resettlement of the ex-combatants.

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