Kampala — The resident district commissioner of Buliisa, Florence Beyunga, has expressed concern over the rampant illegal acquisition of firearms in the district.

She said the guns could fuel ethnic clashes between the indigenous Bagungu and immigrant pastoralists. Addressing officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Buliisa community hall on Wednesday, Beyunga said: "Many people have acquired illegal guns in this area and this is worrying us."

She blamed the increasing number of robberies in the district to the guns owned by civilians. "It is still hard for us to ascertain the source of these guns but we have instructed detectives to investigate where they come from," Beyunga said.

Beyunga, who is also the district security committee chairperson, said some residents used the guns to hunt animals in game reserves. The district chairman, Fred Lukumu, attributed the problem to unemployment. "The problem is the increasing number of unemployed youth who exploit all avenues to earn a living," he said.

Lukumu asked the Government to find jobs for the youth in order to reduce crime in the country. Last year, the leader of the Balalo community in the district, Grace Bwororoza, was charged with the possession of illegal firearms and remanded to Hoima Prison. She is out on bail.