Kampala — THE Government is to carry out a census of all legal guns to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms in the country.

This was revealed by a member of the National Focal Point on Small Arms in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Francis Wanyina, yesterday.

Addressing journalists about the global week action against guns (June 2-8), at the Grand Imperial Kampala, Wanyina said the Government, in December 2002 to March 2003, carried out a mapping exercise ahead of the counting and documentation of guns programme.

"Guns are causing havoc all over the world especially the illegal ones. The Government is to count all guns owned legally. More guns keep on coming into the country because our borders are open. Some are buried and others abandoned in gardens," Wanyina said.

Flanked by the Uganda Action Network on Small Arms co-ordinator, Richard Mugisha, Wanyina said the census will be preceded by establishing the location of guns and people in possession of the guns.

He said the owners will be asked to voluntarily surrender them.