What are the main sources of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Kenya-Uganda border area? What is driving the demand for arms in the region? This article from African Affairs argues that demand for SALW is driven by both lack of security and lack of livelihoods. Sources of SALW include paramilitary groups created by the Ugandan and Kenyan governments.
In the last 25 years, armed conflict among pastoralists in the Kenya-Uganda border area has escalated. This has been facilitated by an increasing number of SALW. Based on empirical evidence collected between 2001 and 2005, the article finds that state policies aimed at reducing conflict have been largely unsuccessful and often counter-productive. For example, paramilitary groups created by the Ugandan and Kenyan governments in an attempt to improve security have in fact stimulated localised arms races.
Demand for arms is driven by many factors. Weak governance and state brutality leads pastoralists to seek arms for protection. Lack of access to land and water, in the context of regular droughts, leads individuals to rely on racketeering for their livelihood. In addition, the pastoralist cultural practice of promoting bravery and, if necessary, violence encourages the ownership of weapons.
Other findings include:
- Illegal sources of SALW include rebel groups such as the Lord’s Resistance Army, poorly disciplined government soldiers and deserters from local paramilitary forces such as the Local Defence Units in Uganda.
- Legal sources of SALW include official security forces, and paramilitary groups which are poorly organised and easily compromised. Arms issued to Kenya Police Reservists are frequently hired out or used in banditry or raiding.
- SALW are also acquired when pastoralists attack state military forces such as the Ugandan Peoples Defence Force.
- SALW are now easily available in the region. In Kenya, the price of a gun has come down from 30-100 cows in the 1970s, to three to six cows recently.
- By contrast, bullets have become more expensive. Ten years ago in Uganda, a bullet cost about three Ugandan Shillings. In 2001, the price had increased to 200 Ugandan Shillings in one area.
Given that small arms are valueless without ammunition, a strategy to control the supply and use of ammunition could be a valuable interim measure to reduce insecurity. In addition, improved governance of paramilitary and military forces is needed to curb arms supplies from these sources. However, addressing supply without demand is futile.
- Weak governance, lack of security, lack of livelihoods, and reduced access to land and water must all be addressed if demand for SALW among pastoral groups is to decrease.
- In the long-term, the best hope lies in establishing national institutions which are accountable and meet the basic needs of all citizens.
