Kayihura orders audit into Police firearms, starting with pistols
The Inspector General of Police,Gen.Kale Kayihura has ordered for an immediate audit into all police firearms ,the Nile Post has learnt.
Police on Thursday morning arrested two of its own officers attached to Kabalagala following the alleged recovery of the Force’s gun from city socialite Brian Kirumira also known as Bryan White’s home in Buziga, a Kampala suburb.
The two officers were acting as Kirumira’s bodyguards.
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According to a message dated December 13 to the officer in charge of classified stores,the IGP has ordered for a fresh inventory of all police firearms starting with pistols.
“This is to direct that you immediately conduct an audit of all police firearms beginning with pistols .I demand a full accountability of all police pistols and other firearms,” Gen Kayihura said in a message whose attention was also made to all police units.
The police boss also advises the officer in charge of classified stores to develop a computerised register of all firearms in addition to proposing an effective system of their control.
“I authorise you to take criminal or disciplinary action against whoever has lost or mishandled firearms. I give you one month,” the message says.
However, Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima says he is not aware of such a directive. "I have not received any such directive,"Kayima said.
This comes against the heels of an incident in which police on Wednesday morning arrested Bryan White before slapping attempted murder charges against him for shooting one Victor Bitwire in the shoulder.
Many people have of late acquired guns and brandish them in public.
According to information from Ministry of Internal Affairs which is responsible for licencensing guns, between 2400 and 3000 guns are in hands of civilians.
In April 2008, the then Mukono District Police Commander James Peter Aurien shot dead her 24 year old wife Christine Apolot after developing a misunderstanding.
He was later arrested and convicted of the murder.
In May 2009, former Arua Municipality Member of Parliament, Hussein Akbar Godi, shot dead his wife, Rehema Caesar Nasur whereas last year, businessman Mathew Kanyamunyu allegedly shot dead Kenneth Akena, a social worker near Lugogo mall over scratching his car.
A number of police officers have in the past been arrested for losing their guns under unclear circumstances.
