The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Yohuno, has addressed the national discussion surrounding legal gun possession, stating that the registration and renewal process is one of the easiest in the country.
His explanation falls on the back of widespread debates on the proliferation of arms in the country with recent findings that suggest that there are a lot of unregistered arms in the country.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee session on September 30, 2025, the IGP offered clarity on how citizens can legally acquire and renew their license for a firearm.
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He indicated that legal possession is primarily achieved by registering the weapon to acquire a license through the firearms registry.
“To register a gun means that you have to be given the license or the permit to possess a gun through this firearms registry,” IGP explained.
He noted that the permit is issued for a period of one year, after which it must be renewed, similar to a driver’s license.
The IGP, however, indicated that the main problem the police face is that the public fails to renew licenses promptly.
“People don’t actually go straight to renew their licenses until something happens with the gun before the police get to know that such a license holder has not renewed it,” he noted.
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IGP Yohuno stressed that the process is remarkably easy and efficient.
“One of the easiest license or renewals to possess is the possession and the renewal of your gun license. It doesn’t take you more than 30 minutes to go to this office, firearms office, and immediately they check all the records and then the license is renewed,” he assured the committee.
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