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Uganda

UNV supports massive peaceful explosions in Uganda

Kinshasa, Uganda: UNV volunteers have helped the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces to blow up more than 460 tonnes of decommissioned, redundant and obsolete ammunition and ordinances.

The event was the largest of its kind in the country and comprised an assortment of bombs, rockets, grenades, shells and bullets that were destroyed in a series of massive explosions of 10-15 tonnes of material at a time.

UNV helped organise a public event to mark the activity and raise awareness of the problems associated with the proliferation of small arms and also highlight measures being taken to combat the problem. UNV volunteers mobilized members of the public to witness the event, inviting key guests and media representatives, as well as developing the programme for the event, arranging funding, overseeing logistical preparations and coordinating with UNDP, UPDF and the Police on the operation.

The event was coordinated by the Uganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NFP) and executed by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) with support from the UNDP/Conflict Prevention and Recovery Unit who financed the project, SaferAfrica, a South African NGO, together with experts from the South African Army, who provided technical support.

"Through these arms destruction activities, Uganda is making a statement of peace. Uganda is no longer at war. This is the time to remove all weapons of war from circulation in order to make our communities safe," said the Minister of Defence, Mr. Chrispus Kiyonga.

The public event was presided over by the Minster of Defence, and also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the UNDP Resident Representative, the South African High Commissioner, representatives of the American State Department, several diplomats and Government officials, as well as both national and international media representatives.

The National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Mr. Richard Nabudere, expressed his appreciation of the support of UNDP and UNV. He said the NFP had "come out of obscurity" and that its activities were now more visible to the people of Uganda because of the contribution made by UNV volunteers.

This story was written with the support of UNV volunteer Mr. Joe Burua, who is seconded to the NFP as a PRO/Communications Officer.