Government Destroys 100 Voluntarily Surrendered Firearms in Moroto

A total of 100 illegal firearms recovered voluntarily under the African Amnesty Month programme have been publicly burnt at Naitakwae Playground in Nadunget Sub-county, Moroto District. 

The weapons were destroyed in the presence of the general public as a symbolic gesture underscoring the dangers firearms pose and the need to keep them out of the community. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted the exercise in partnership with the African Union, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the Regional Centre on Small Arms, and the Silencing the Guns Initiative. 

The event followed a two-day regional sensitisation workshop and outreach programme on the voluntary surrender and collection of illicit weapons in the Karamoja sub-region. Antony Nakayima, Coordinator of the National Focal Point on Small Arms at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, explained that the public destruction of firearms is intended to build trust between the government and the community. 

Nakayima emphasised the importance of allowing communities to witness what happens to the weapons they voluntarily surrender, assuring them that the firearms will not return to circulation. He added that authorities continue to encourage armed warriors to hand over illegal guns to the relevant security agencies. 

Nakayima noted that efforts are also focused on rebuilding trust between communities and security organs, acknowledging that previous disarmament operations left gaps due to perceived injustices. He said the government aims to promote dialogue among communities, security agencies, and other stakeholders, linking disarmament efforts to tangible development initiatives. 

Simon Peter Lokeris, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, said the voluntary surrender of firearms promotes peaceful coexistence and saves lives. He noted that the government has consistently destroyed recovered weapons, contributing to the region’s gradual transformation. 

Lokeris stressed that guns have caused immense destruction to both lives and property. He observed that gun-related violence escalated when communities turned against one another. He further noted that many individuals who possessed firearms became defiant and resistant to guidance. 

Lokeris said a degree of stability has since been restored as communities increasingly recognise the value of peace and agree to surrender weapons. He urged warriors still in possession of illegal firearms to hand them over to enable development and transformation to take root in the region. 

John Robert Adupa, Coordinator of Reformed Warriors in Moroto District, said convincing warriors to surrender their firearms was not an easy task. Adupa explained that many warriors initially demanded that the government purchase the guns or exchange them for valuable assets such as cattle. However, through sustained community dialogues, leaders engaged the warriors and educated them on the dangers of keeping firearms within the community.

Adupa said many warriors eventually embraced the message and began surrendering their guns unconditionally. He appealed to the government to support those who have disarmed through trauma healing and financial empowerment programmes, warning that failure to do so may push some back into armed activities if livelihoods remain uncertain. 

Mariko Logit, a resident of Arechek Village in Nadunget Sub-county, is among the formerly notorious warriors who voluntarily surrendered their firearms after prolonged pursuit by security agencies and local leaders. Logit said he had initially ignored calls from security forces but later reconsidered following engagement with the area councillor. 

He explained that his hesitation stemmed from fears about livestock security and uncertainty over life after disarmament. Logit recounted that several of his associates were killed in a security ambush during a raid, an experience that ultimately compelled him to surrender his gun. 

Despite receiving iron sheets and goats as part of an appreciation package, Logit said he still faces challenges. He noted that he lacks funds for construction materials and labour, and that only five of the 16 goats he received survived. He called for a specialised empowerment programme to help him fully transition from his former life. 

Benon Kwikiriza, the Moroto Resident District Commissioner, applauded the African Amnesty Month programme for reinforcing ongoing security efforts to rid communities of illegal firearms and promote peaceful coexistence. Kwikiriza commended security forces for their continued efforts, particularly in managing porous borders to curb the influx of illicit weapons.

He observed that the era of insecurity is gradually coming to an end and urged communities to prioritise development, especially education. Kwikiriza noted that poverty has been a key driver of insecurity but said the government has invested additional resources in economic empowerment and skilling initiatives. He warned, however, that the region risks producing another generation of warriors if leaders and communities fail to ensure children are enrolled and retained in school. 

Kwikiriza expressed concern that, despite numerous interventions to support education, some families deliberately keep children at home for domestic work. 

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