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UNDP supports destruction of 500 tons of ammunition in Uganda
Demolition is the largest in Africa to date

Kampala, 2 November 2007 – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has supported the Government of Uganda in conducting the biggest single ammunition destruction in Africa, with a call to strengthening of partnerships in solving the world’s problems, including that of insecurity resulting from illegal possession of arms.

'The challenge of the spread of illicit arms and their devastating effects on lives and livelihood cannot be addressed by any organization, government or individual working alone. It is a global challenge and therefore calls for collective action,' said Mr. Theophane Nikyema, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Uganda.

The climax of the month-long exercise was the massive blast at Nakasongola Military Base in central Uganda, at a public event organized by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) – the national army – on 2 November.

This destruction exercise is aimed at removing dangerous ammunition from society in a bid to make communities safe, and is among several national measures to control arms and reduce availability and access to weapons. The explosives are part of obsolete, redundant and captured stocks in military storage facilities.

The exercise is another first for Uganda, following the destruction by smelting last year of more than 57,000 small arms and light weapons – the largest so far in Africa – at the Steel Rolling Mills in Jinja, eastern Uganda. Earlier, in July 2007, UNDP also supported the destruction of 34,000 rounds of ammunition at Kigo Prisons in central Uganda.

UNDP, under the human security component of its Crisis Prevention and Recovery (CPR) Unit, has rendered this support to the Government of Uganda through the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NFP-SALW). This is the government agency responsible for the implementation of national measures to prevent, combat and eradicate the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. UNDP supports the NFP in the implementation of the National Action Plan on SALW (NAP) in areas of stockpile management, capacity building and awareness raising.

'In Uganda the main goal of UNDP’s CPR programme is to support community security and recovery in order to achieve sustainable livelihoods, especially in northern Uganda,' Mr. Nikyema said. 'We believe that development – and recovery of conflict affected communities – can only occur in an environment in which peace prevails.'

SaferAfrica, a South African NGO specializing in arms control and demolition activities - along with a team of explosives and ordnance demolition experts from the United States - have provided technical support for the exercise.

Speaking at the destruction ceremony, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga, said: 'Illegal possession of arms is one of the leading barriers to social and economic progress worldwide. Arms represent a direct threat to the security, political stability and economic development of Uganda and the region as whole.'

He added that through this destruction exercise, the Government of Uganda was once again demonstrating its commitment to rid the country of surplus and redundant stocks of weapons in line with Uganda’s obligations under the international agreements and protocols which call for action in collecting and ensuring safe storage and disposal of surplus redundant, captured and surrendered weapons. They include the UN Programme of Action, the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol.