By Richard Onapatum
Kotido, Uganda – In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing disarmament efforts in the Karamoja Sub-region, three firearms were voluntarily surrendered by residents of Kotido District on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
The firearms, which included:
1. SMG (Sub-Machine Gun) Number 79551, with five live rounds of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition, surrendered by Lokomol Daudi, a resident of Naryamatolim Cell, Lokitaleabu Town Council. The SMG is a select-fire firearm, capable of firing in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. It has a folding stock and a detachable magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds.
2. SMG Number 10427, with two live rounds of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition, handed over by Lokutu Lochubae, a resident of Kadokin Cell, South Division. This SMG also features a folding stock and a detachable magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds.
3. SMG Number 1977244449, with one live round of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition, surrendered by Lochu Loose Peter, a resident of Napong Cell, Lokitaleabu Central Ward, Lokitaleabu Town Council. This SMG has a fixed stock and a detachable magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds.
The suspects were released without charges under the Amnesty Window, a government initiative promoting voluntary disarmament.
According to Major Isaac Oware, the Public Information Officer for the 3rd Division, the disarmament efforts in Karamoja have been ongoing since 2018, with over 378 illegal guns recovered and destroyed.
“This is a significant milestone in our efforts to disarm and bring peace to the Karamoja Sub-region,” Major Oware said. “We encourage all armed warriors still in hiding to take advantage of the Amnesty Window and surrender their weapons.”
The recovery of the firearms comes as President Yoweri Museveni is visiting the Karamoja Sub-region to assess the performance of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government program aimed at boosting household incomes and driving socio-economic transformation.
The disarmament efforts in Karamoja are part of a broader strategy to bring peace and stability to the region. The government has implemented various initiatives, including the Amnesty Window, to encourage armed warriors to surrender their weapons and reintegrate into their communities.
The surrender of firearms by Kotido residents is seen as a significant step towards achieving lasting peace in the Karamoja Sub-region. The government has pledged to continue its efforts to disarm and bring peace to the region, and has called on all stakeholders to support these efforts.