Uganda President Museveni Reiterates Call for Fingerprinting Army Weapons

Uganda President Museveni Reiterates Call for Fingerprinting Army Weapons

President Yoweri Museveni has repeated his instruction to have all firearms in the possession of the army fingerprinted.

The president said this is a crucial step to enhance security and prevent the misuse of guns. He first issued the directive in 2018, following a series of high-profile assassinations in the country.

Museveni’s Security Plan

Museveni made the remarks during the pass-out of 295 cadet officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Land and Air Forces at the Uganda Military Academy Kabamba in Mubende district. He said fingerprinting guns is part of his comprehensive security plan that he unveiled three years ago to curb crime and terrorism.

“I directed that all guns must be finger-printed so that we know which gun killed who. That directive was not implemented fully but I am going to repeat it here,” Museveni said.

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He said fingerprinting guns will help the security agencies to trace the origin and ownership of any weapon used in criminal activities. He said this will deter rogue elements within the army and other security organs from collaborating with criminals or terrorists.

Museveni’s Security Challenges

Museveni’s security plan was prompted by the murder of several prominent Ugandans, including former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi, former Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga, former Buyende District Police Commander Muhammad Kirumira, and former Attorney General Peter Nyombi.

The president blamed these killings on a combination of factors, such as laxity in intelligence gathering, infiltration of security forces by enemies, lack of modern technology, and weak laws. He vowed to address these challenges and restore peace and stability in the country.

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Museveni’s Security Achievements

Museveni said his security plan has yielded positive results, as evidenced by the reduction of crime and terrorism in the country. He said some of the measures he implemented include installing CCTV cameras on major roads and urban centres, deploying digital monitors on vehicles and motorcycles, recruiting local defence units, and strengthening the legal framework.

He also said his government has invested heavily in equipping and training the UPDF and other security agencies to deal with various threats. He said the UPDF has now covered many aspects of national defence and is working on launching a satellite to enhance its surveillance capabilities.