The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura has tasked Members of Parliament to review the country’s gun policy on private fire arms ownership to enable Uganda Police Force make ‘‘restrictions’’ on its issuance.
Gen Kayihura made the remarks while addressing mourners during the burial of Kenneth Akena on Wednesday in Kitgum district.
Akena, a child rights activist was shot over the weekend in an unspecified location thought to be near Lugogo mall parking area, later dying of his injuries at Norvik Hospital in Kampala.
The Police chief told mourners that on many occasions, private and state owned licensed guns have been misused for committing crimes like murder and robbery.
“I think this time round the parliament needs to interest its self on the law governing fire arms so that we can make restrictions otherwise the police has a problem now; we are currently using administrative ways to curb the issuance of guns to the civilians,” said Gen Kayihura said.
Gen Kayihura cited the jailed former Arua Municipality MP Akbar Godi whom he said used his licensed gun to kill his wife.
“if we are to allow these gun licenses, a third of Ugandans will by now be owning guns like in United States of America and chances are the crime rates may be more higher,” Kayihura added.
Investigation not tampered
Gen Kayihura also assured the public that despite ‘negative’ reports circulating on social media surrounding death of Akena, investigation into what and who killed Akena is still going on smoothly.
“We cannot investigate in the public. Investigation is something we have to do carefully to protect the witnesses and not to compromise the investigation itself. What I can assure the family and the mourners is that there are lines of investigation we are following which we believe should lead us to establish what happened, who caused it to happen and ultimately enabling us to go to court so that justice is done,” Gen Kayihura said.
The police boss’ remarks followed statements from a section of political and religious leaders in Acholi Sub region who tasked the IGP to crack on illegal firearms.
Following Akena’s shooting, police has since arrested and detained Mr Mathew Kanyamunyu, the Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Express Logistics and his Burundian girlfriend Munwangari Cynthia to help with the investigation.
Uganda’s Gun Policy
In 2012, the government unveiled a new gun policy that seeks to oversee the acquisition, use, and storage of fire arms.
The new policy unveiled by Uganda National Focal Point on Small and Light weapon called for the replacement of the 1970 firearm act that only regulates ownership of firearms held by individuals while those held by police and security agencies are governed under separate laws.
