Uganda Regional Task Forces Training
Training of Regional Task Forces on the National Action Plan for Arms Management and Disarmament in Uganda
The mapping or national assessment of the small arms and light weapons problem in Uganda was completed on 28 February 2003, leading to the creation of the National Action Plan for Uganda in May 2004. The next step in the implementation of the National Action Plan involved the creation, training and capacitating of the different Regional Task Forces, conducted by the Ugandan NFP, SaferAfrica and the Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC). A team comprising of a representative from each organization conducted the fieldwork and facilitated the six workshops between 14 February 2005 and 04 March 2005.
The team included:
- CP Richard Nabudere (NFP)
- Mr Sarel Buijs (SaferAfrica)
- Mr Jerry Kitiku (SRIC)
In total, there were 81 participants in the six workshops. Participants from every region of Uganda were invited, using a generic list.
At a regional level, the participants included:
- Regional Police Commander
- Regional CID Officer
- Sector Security Officer
- Customs Officer
- Immigration Officer
- Military Commander
- Civil society
Workshop Number |
Workshop Location |
Number of participants |
|
Workshop 1 |
Kampala |
28 |
|
Workshop 2 |
Fort Portal |
17 |
|
Workshop 3 |
Gulu |
7 |
|
Workshop 4 |
Arua |
7 |
|
Workshop 5 |
Mbale |
12 |
|
Workshop 6 |
Mbarara |
10 |
|
Total |
|
81 |
|
Workshop objectives
In each of the six regional workshops, the same format was followed and the same objectives applied. The objectives of these workshops were:
- To develop and strengthen the capacity of national and regional officials to manage and administer small arms control and disarmament.
- Increase the synergy within and between the different national and regional institutions focusing on the implementation of the Ugandan National Action Plan.
- To inform civil society of the strategy adopted by the National Action Plan for small arms management and disarmament, and the role of civil society in implementing and sustaining it, as well as bringing together all sectors of Ugandan civil society behind these issues.
After attending the course, each participant should achieve the following training objectives on specific thematic issues:
- Working knowledge of the following international, regional and sub-regional agreements:
- The UN Programme of Action
- The Vienna Protocol
- The Bamako Declaration
- The Nairobi Declaration
- The SADC Protocol
- Understand the link between the international, regional and sub-regional agreements and protocols, and the Uganda National plan of action. As such they must have a working knowledge of:
- The process that led to the creation of the national action plan;
- The strategy behind the national action plan, including the phases and the building block approach for implementation;
- The role and responsibility of the international community, the government and civil society in the implementation and sustainability of the national action plan.
- In-depth understanding of the national implementation structure, composition, role, functions and responsibilities of the following:
- National Security Committee
- National Focal Point on firearms
- Regional Task Force for Arms Management and Disarmament
Recommendations
In addition to the training provided, the workshops developed the profile for each of the Regional Task Forces. The composition of these Regional Task Forces does not vary greatly between localities, apart from a few peculiarities in specific regions.
Seen as a generic whole, the composition of RTF’s in Uganda are as follows:
- Regional Police Commander
- Regional CID Officer
- Special branch Officer
- UPDF Representative
- RISO
- Regional Revenue Officer
- Regional Immigration Officer
- Representative Wildlife
- Forestry Official
- Civil Society
- Representative Local government
- Refugee Desk officer
to top
home
search