Uganda - Apply for an Entry Permit of Guns or Ammunition

Advertisement

Procedure

Apply In-Person
Step 1.

• The first step is to make written application to the Firearm Licensing Board in Uganda under the Ministry of Internal Affairs through Uganda embassy in your country of origin. The Chief Licensing Officer, appointed by the Commissioner of Police, regulates guns in Uganda.
• Guiding gun control legislation in Uganda includes the Firearms Act 299 section 2.
• That such a firearm or ammunition can be permitted into Uganda for only particularly suitable for sporting purposes; excluding surplus military firearm.

Step 2.

• You will then be issued with an application form that will you will be required be filled with relevant information and attach the required documents.
• Details of the required documents can be found in the “Required Documents Section” of this page while the required information can be found in “Required Section” of this page.
• Make sure to accompany the application form with all the required documents.
• These include the permit to possess a firearm in your home Country.
• A person not meeting the above criteria may not be granted permission to import the firearms / ammunition
• A Local permit is required for a firearm or ammunition brought into the Uganda or any possession thereof by any person who can establish to the satisfaction of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that such firearm or ammunition was previously taken out of the Uganda or any possession thereof by such person..

Step 3

• On arrival in Uganda, the Authorities in Uganda will register your serial number of the weapon Firearms or ammunition, which an individual acquired for use (for example, Hunting or bird shooting or protection).
• The firearms and/or ammunition may not be transferred to another person within Uganda.
• This permit does not authorize the importation of a shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length or an overall length of less than 26 inches.

Step 4

• Upon a satisfactory appraisal of the application, the permit is issued in a booklet form, bearing one of the passport photographs of the applicant and carrying the stamp of the Country police headquarters.
• The holder of this permit MUST take the firearms and any unused ammunition back out of the territorial limits Uganda upon the conclusion of his/her hunting or sporting activity.

Note:

1. The permit authorized the applicant of the firearms, carry his /her gun up to the Boarder entry and must be, handed to the authorities on arrival. All arms and ammunition, including spear guns, must be handed to the police or customs on arrival and a receipt obtained. The bonded firearms will be returned on departure.
2. In Uganda, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law.
3. In Uganda, civilians are not allowed to possess long-guns but they can carry small arms that are hand-held firearms-such as revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles, submachine-guns, assault rifles, and light machine-guns-designed for use by one person.3 Light weapons, a closely related category, are designed for use by several persons serving as a crew in Uganda.

Advertisement

Required Documents

1. 4 Passport sized photographs
2. Attested copy of address proof:
3. Attested copy of date of birth.(passport copy, Birth certificate)
4. Affidavit sworn before a Magistrate/Notary stating date and place of birth by illiterate or semi-illiterate applicants.
5. Police clearance Certificate.
6. Duly filled application form
7. Gun Permit held
8. Medical report showing applicant is fit to possess a firearm

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Internal Affairs
Firearms Licensing Board
Plot 75, Jinja road.
P.O.Box 7191, Kampala
Tel:+256414595945
Fax: +256 424 434 088
Email: [email protected]
Website:Ministry of Internal Affairs

• Scroll down to the bottom of the web page. The contact details are available

Eligibility

• Must be a holder of a firearm license.
• All Foreigners and Resident of Uganda with a Entry pass of Guns or Ammunition license are Eligible.
• Foreigner tourist must have a tourist visa before securing a Ammunition permit in Uganda.

Fees

1. For import or export permit
2. For each permit of a registered firearms dealer . $1,000
3. For each permit for a resident of Uganda: Per gun..$ 200
4. Per ammunition ... $900
5. Pistols and Revolvers $2,000
6. For each sport hunting permit.. .. $100
7. For each permit for sporting bulk ammunition (not exceeding 500 rounds)……. $150
8. For each permit for sporting bulk ammunition (not exceeding 500 rounds)……… $200
9. For each fishing gun permit ... $200
10. For each permit for person who is not a resident.. $300

Validity

• Valid for a period of 90 days

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• Processing take 60 days

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• Foreign citizens should take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling to Uganda.
• Foreign travelers should exercise caution and are strongly encouraged to register with their home Embassy prior to or immediately upon their arrival.
• Firearms must be bonded and are held by the proper authorities until time of departure. However, Import of all firearms, including sporting guns, is prohibited in Uganda.
• You will need a permit to own any gun in Uganda. Firearms should be licensed and must be securely locked on board, under the captain's control only.
• At times Fire arms must be declared and if customs are satisfied that they are safely secured, you may be allowed to keep them on board.

Required Information

1. Name (in full)
2. Postal address
   • If above address is temporary only, state address to which communications should be sent
   • Residential address.
   • Length of period resident at address (c) .
3. Age
4. Nationality.
5. Occupation
6. Reason for requiring the firearm(s) and ammunition
7. Firearms and ammunition for which certificate required—
   • firearms—
   • possessed at date of application
8. Desired to be purchased or acquired
   • ammunition— Quantity Calibre and Type
     • possessed at date of application
     • Maximum amount desired to be purchased or acquired at any one time
     • Total amount desired to be purchased or acquired in one year
     • Maximum amount desired to be possessed at any one time
   • Whether a firearm certificate has previously been held, or applied for, by applicant
   • Date and place of issue of any firearm certificate previously held

Need for the Document

• Non-immigrant visitors entering into Uganda with firearms or ammunition must surrender their firearms at the arrival port of entry. It is not easy to obtain a Gun permit into Uganda.
• They should inquire through their country's embassy or consulate about the permit required. Some countries impose a stiff prison term for importing illegal firearms.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition save under and in accordance with the terms of an import or export permit issued by an authorized officer.
• Diplomats, foreign law enforcement officials and visiting dignitaries designated by the Uganda Department of State are not exempt from this requirement when bringing a gun for hunting purposes.
• Therefor this document is very important to avoid importation and exportation of Guns falling into wrong Hands.

Information which might help

• Non-immigrant visitors entering the Uganda with firearms or ammunition must surrender their firearms at the arrival port of entry. It is not easy to obtain a Gun permit into Uganda.
• They should inquire through their country's embassy or consulate about the permit required. Some countries impose a stiff prison term for importing illegal firearms.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition save under and in accordance with the terms of an import or export permit issued by an authorized officer.
• Diplomats, foreign law enforcement officials and visiting dignitaries designated by the Uganda Department of State are not exempt from this requirement when bringing a gun for hunting purposes.
• A list of firearms, with their type and details, must be handed to the authorities on arrival at the port of Entry in Uganda.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition save under and in accordance with the terms of an import or export permit issued by an authorized officer:
• Provided that where any firearm or ammunition, not being a firearm or ammunition the importation of which is for the time being prohibited under subsection (2), is imported for the personal use of the owner thereof but without an import permit under this section having been previously obtained authorizing the importation thereof, the importation shall not be deemed to contravene the provisions of this section if the firearm or ammunition on importation is left in customs control until an import permit under this section is obtained in respect of the importation thereof.
• No person shall import or export any firearm or ammunition, or any firearm or ammunition of a class or type, of which the importation or exportation is for the time being prohibited by the Minister by order published in the Gazette.
• Any person who contravenes any of the provisions shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than fifteen years.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• Firearms policy Firearms policy
• Fire arms in Uganda.Gun Policy

Others

• The permit Authorized the applicant of the firearms, carry his /her gun up to the Boarder entry and must, hand them over to the authorities on arrival.
• All arms and ammunition, including spear guns, must be handed to the police or customs on arrival and a receipt obtained. The bonded firearms will be returned on departure.
• In Uganda, law does not guarantee the right to private gun ownership.
• In Uganda, civilians are not allowed to possess long-guns but they can carry small arms that are hand-held firearms-such as revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles, submachine-guns, assault rifles, and light machine-guns-designed for use by one person.3 Light weapons, a closely-related category, are designed for use by several persons serving as a crew in Uganda.