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Uganda: Disarmament Crisis Over Rising Gun Trade in Karamoja Region
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The Monitor (Kampala)
30 December 2007
Posted to the web 31 December 2007
Yasiin Mugerwa
Parliament
THE GOVERNMENT'S hopes to get rid of illicit arms in the volatile Karamoja region have suffered a setback following new reports of serious re-armament that is threatening to outstrip disarmament efforts.
The failure has been attributed to increased gun trafficking in the area, a profitable business involving even some of the local leaders who bribe authorities to smuggle guns from neghbouring districts.
Citing a recent incident, a source told Sunday Monitor that on December 19 Mr Marko Loduk, the Nakapiripirit District NRM party treasurer, was arrested at Murwajore roadblock with three AK47s and a bag of live ammunition.
"As we talk now re-armament is overtaking disarmament. The rate at which the population in Karamoja is getting access to guns is alarming and all this is due to the booming gun trade in Karamoja. This NRM treasurer was coming from Mabale to Karamoja and investigation reports show that he has been in this business for some time," a source that preferred anonymity for security reasons said.
Although, it is alleged that guns come from the neighbouring districts, other military intelligence sources told Sunday Monitor on Friday that arms were flowing into Karamoja from southern Sudan to Uganda through the porous border and that some arrests have been made in Kotido, Kaabong, Matheniko and Jie counties.
"Guns still come in but it's not true to say that disarmament is not going on well. We are doing everything possible to block all these routes as a matter of urgency. In fact, we have always imprisoned and charged culprits under court martial," a source said.
The booming gun trade in Karamoja comes after the State Minister for Primary Education Peter Lokeris, recently confirmed that there was a renewed inflow of illegal guns into the region, saying the porous nature of the Uganda-Sudan border had made it impossible for the "skeleton" UPDF to stop the illicit trade.
Some members of the Karamoja Parliamentary Group, who also preferred anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the new development although they demanded for the formation of a militia to backup UPDF in the disarmament process.
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They say disagreement has lost meaning because those that are disarmed end up buying guns from errant soldiers.
I am interestted in Disarmament studies among pastoral communities and i find your site quite interesting with that area
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