Eyewitness  News
  • Home
Thursday, February 2, 2023
  • Login
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News
No Result
View All Result
Eyewitness  News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News
Home Latest News

African Legislators in Campaign to Address Armed Violence

May 2, 2020
in Latest News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

African legislators in campaign to address armed violence
African legislators in campaign to address armed violence
Saturday, 3 March 2018

MIDRAND, SOUTH AFRICA: African legislators are in a campaign to push for ratification and implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty to address armed violence rampant on the continent.
The MPs note that the readily available small arms and weapons are responsible for the high crime rate and terror among the population in Africa.

Karin Olofsson, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons while addressing Parliamentarians attending a Pan African Parliament workshop in Midrand, South Africa on Saturday, 3 March 2018, said in South Africa alone, 18 people are killed every day by guns.

“The situation in the world related to armed violence is very serious. Each year, 875 million small arms and light weapons in circulation worldwide cause the tragic death of thousands of individuals,” she said.
She added that armed conflict and violence, regardless of scale, are perpetuated by uncontrolled availability of small arms and light weapons. She told legislators that misuse of the arms have devastating consequences. They fuel conflict, impede peace and sustainable development.

According to a recent study by Oxfam, the human cost of uncontrolled arms include injuries, forced population movement, erosion of trust, poverty and gender based violence.

“The risk of gender based violence heightens in conflict situations and it is estimated that more than 45 percent of African women have experienced violence as a result of armed conflict, this is unacceptable,” Olofsson added.

Parliamentarians noted that political will was key to reducing armed violence. The two-day regional seminar seeks to increase parliamentarians understanding and ownership of international instruments that guide and regulate conventional arms as well as promote increased parliamentary participation and action in international processes. The seminar aligns with the African Union flagship initiative of silencing the guns by 2020, which aims at realizing a conflict free Africa and liberate future generations from the burden of conflict.
Hon. Lilian Timveos (Zimbabwe) and also Member of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons notes that there is a lot of criminality and armed robberies arising from the prevalence of small arms and light weapons.

“It is important for government to regulate the flow of small arms and weapons. If countries ratify the ATT and domesticate it, it will go a long way in addressing gun violence,” she said adding “There are a lot criminals that have these small arms and weapons. In Zimbabwe for instance, just two weeks ago, thugs used guns and robbed a bank.”

The situation in Zimbabwe in not any different from Uganda where armed robberies and killings are prevalent. On Thursday, it was reported that two armed thugs attacked a businesswoman in broad day light in Bweyogerere, a Kampala suburb, slitting her throat. Police however pursued the thugs and killed them.
According to Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the heart of the problem of gun violence in Africa is in politics.

“The core issue in Africa is politics, governance and the ability to establish governance systems where people find equity, where everybody feels they belong; where concerns are addressed fairly, where there is satisfaction in the governance processes including elections; and forming governments and delivering services to the people,” he said.

PAP President, Roger Nkodo Dang said Africa’s development is affected negatively by the proliferation of small arms and weapons. He said legislators should search for solutions to the problem by addressing the origin of the problem. He said it is an uphill task for Africa to combat small arms and light weapons because it does not produce or export arms.

“We need to have legislation against small arms and light weapons. People must know that if they have weapons, the consequence will be heavy, and if they use these arms, the consequences will even be heavier,” Ignatienne Nyirarukundo, a legislator from Rwanda, said.

On the regulation of guns in the hands of private security firms, legislators noted that in most African countries, private security companies exist in a context where the state lacks the capacity or resources to provide effective security for its citizens. Legislators observed that policy making on small arms would require the understanding of which role private security companies play and how best to regulate them. The workshop noted that in their legislative role, MPs can introduce legislation or propose review of existing laws on small arms and light weapons linked to private security companies. In its representative role, MPs can raise issues of national concern by identifying threats posed by unregulated private security companies. And through its oversight role, MPs can ensure that the Executive upholds and implements its international commitments with regards to the various Treaties, Conventions and Protocols.

The Arms Trade Treaty, adopted by the UN General Assembly to regulate the international trade in conventional arms, came into force in 2014. To date, 89 states have ratified it with 130 signatory states.
Uganda’s Members to PAP include: Hon. Jacquiline Amongin (NRM, Ngora); Prof. Ogenga Latigo (FDC, Agago North); Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya (NRM, Ssembabule); Hon. Felix Okot Ogong (NRM, Dokolo South) and Hon. Babirye Kadogo (Ind. Buyende).

ENDS

Previous Post

Kazungu Out, Menya in. Restructure Refugee Department. ONEK

Next Post

Valentino Goes Deliberately Feminine for Fall 2018

Related Posts

Monitoring of Local Gov’ts Lacking-MPs
Latest News

Monitoring of Local Gov’ts Lacking-MPs

January 19, 2023
0

Inspection and monitoring of service delivery at local government level remains wanting, according to a section of Members of Parliament...

Read more
Parliament Rejects Govt Report for Lack of Quick Interventions.

Parliament Rejects Govt Report for Lack of Quick Interventions.

April 12, 2022
Opposition Call off Parliament Boycott

Opposition Call off Parliament Boycott

November 20, 2022
Aringa MP- Calls for More Funds For Yumbe Regional Hospital

Aringa MP- Calls for More Funds For Yumbe Regional Hospital

December 7, 2021
Oulanyah Rallies Agago to Take up Vaccination

Oulanyah Rallies Agago to Take up Vaccination

December 4, 2021
Health Consumers Push For Patients’ Rights Law 

Health Consumers Push For Patients’ Rights Law 

October 26, 2021
Next Post
Valentino Goes Deliberately Feminine for Fall 2018

Valentino Goes Deliberately Feminine for Fall 2018

Meet Jo Jo, Body Positive Model and Cousin of Gigi

Meet Jo Jo, Body Positive Model and Cousin of Gigi

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Phaneroo Boss, Sudhir Grilled Over Nakawa Land

Phaneroo Boss, Sudhir Grilled Over Nakawa Land

April 22, 2022
MPs – Reaction to The State of Nation Address

West Nile MPs, Govt Chief Whip Clash Over Electricity in the Region

January 15, 2023
Gov’t Procures Sh1.9b Bone Marrow Transplant Machines

Gov’t Procures Sh1.9b Bone Marrow Transplant Machines

November 14, 2022
Spice Diana Roasted Alive By Fans on Social Media For  Being A Covid -19  Potential Carrier

Spice Diana Roasted Alive By Fans on Social Media For Being A Covid -19 Potential Carrier

March 24, 2020
Budget Advocates Concerned With New Wave Of Corruption In Govt.

Budget Advocates Concerned With New Wave Of Corruption In Govt.

1
Musoke Ibrahim a father to Rahim who is now eight years

Being A Good Father Does Not Mean Money But Love & Care

1
URBRA Cautions On NSSF Mid-Term Access 

URBRA Cautions On NSSF Mid-Term Access 

1

Hello world!

0
Workers MP Want A Forensic Audit Into Nssf

Workers MP Want A Forensic Audit Into Nssf

February 2, 2023
PM Nabbanja Directed to Sort out Drug Crisis

PM Nabbanja Directed to Sort out Drug Crisis

February 2, 2023
Alcohol Manufacturers Reject Alcohol Control Bill-2022.

Alcohol Manufacturers Reject Alcohol Control Bill-2022.

February 2, 2023
MPs Named On AD Hoc Committee To Probe NSSF

MPs Named On AD Hoc Committee To Probe NSSF

January 31, 2023

Recent News

Workers MP Want A Forensic Audit Into Nssf

Workers MP Want A Forensic Audit Into Nssf

February 2, 2023
PM Nabbanja Directed to Sort out Drug Crisis

PM Nabbanja Directed to Sort out Drug Crisis

February 2, 2023
Alcohol Manufacturers Reject Alcohol Control Bill-2022.

Alcohol Manufacturers Reject Alcohol Control Bill-2022.

February 2, 2023
MPs Named On AD Hoc Committee To Probe NSSF

MPs Named On AD Hoc Committee To Probe NSSF

January 31, 2023

Eyewitnessug.com is Licensed by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Under Dominion Media Limited.

Dominion Media Limited is registered by Uganda Revenue Authority.

For Advertisement Reach out to Marketing Department via.
Email: [email protected]

Contact us through our Postal Address.
P.O.BOX 21157 Kampala-Uganda.

Browse by Category

  • Agiriculture
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Development
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Editor's Pick
  • Education
  • Entertainment & Arts
  • Enviroment
  • Faith
  • Feature News
  • Governance
  • Health
  • International
  • Latest News
  • obituary
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tourism

Recent News

Workers MP Want A Forensic Audit Into Nssf

Workers MP Want A Forensic Audit Into Nssf

February 2, 2023
PM Nabbanja Directed to Sort out Drug Crisis

PM Nabbanja Directed to Sort out Drug Crisis

February 2, 2023
  • Home

© 2021 Allrights Reserved EYEWITNESS NEWS UGANDA

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Diplomacy
  • ECONOMY
  • Agriculture
  • Faith
  • Security
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Latest News

© 2021 Allrights Reserved EYEWITNESS NEWS UGANDA

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
error: Content is protected !!