The Influence of the Porous Kenya-uganda Boarder on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in East African Region

Abstract

This study paper focused on porous country borders and the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) using the case of Karamoja region in the Kenya-Uganda border. The main research objectives included examining the impact of the porous Kenya-Uganda border on national security, interrogating the strategies employed solve proliferation of SALW, and to highlight challenges faced in solving issue of proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Kenya Uganda Karamoja cluster region. This research is grounded on securitization theory as found in the works of Buzan, Weaver and Wilde who viewed national security as a product of careful designation by government decision makers and politicians. The Theory provided sectorial approach, allowing existential threats to be discovered and presenting an opportunity to be specific on security requirements. This research used both qualitative and archival research methods and previewed textual data gathered from current studies and interviewed participants linked to the research. Study participants comprised of media houses, security agencies from the government, community elders, and youth and women groups that have lived or interacted with the life in Kenya-Uganda Karamoja region. Data collected from interviews and from secondary sources was analyzed thematically using descriptive statistics. Based on first objective, its revealed that porosity varied from region to the other, with the main drivers being vast and rugged nature of borders, loose controls, and border administration structures, and corruption of officers charged with managing the borders. Porous country borders allowed the movement and trade of weapons ranging from knives, homemade weapons, ropes, strangling devices, military grade explosives, chemical agents, mortars, rifles, and pistols. The increasing numbers of illicit SALW led to more deaths through combats and intercommunity fights, kidnappings, and destruction of infrastructure. Based on second objective, existence of several strategies like stockpile management of weapons, licensing of guns, gun marking and record keeping, enactment of legislative measures and awareness creation, and social and economic empowerment. The enlisted measures and others still being implemented on lower scales had achieved relatable success judging from the number of individuals transformed away from raiding activities. In line with third objective, findings of the study identified corruption, resource constraints, socio-cultural factors, and geographical-related factors as the key challenges in combating proliferation of illicit SALW. The study concluded that in as much as several challenges exist as enlisted in this study, all was not lost as critical measures could be employed with time to help salvage the situation. Key on the list, as discovered in the study findings included aggressive economic and social empowerment in the Karamoja region, institutional reforms, and organizational cooperation in combating illicit spread of SALW.