The Nature of Lake Victoria Transboundary Disputes and Economic Security Management between Kenya and Uganda

Transboundary disputes extend to maritime zones that neighboring countries share. A majority of these disputes are in existence as a result of failure to manage economic value of resources found on shared maritime zones. Lake Victoria transboundary disputes between Kenya-Uganda are about resources within this maritime zone. The management of economic security has been negatively affected by this transboundary dispute since resolutions on the same do not focus on the economic security aspect. This paper examines the nature of Lake Victoria transboundary dispute and economic security management between Kenya and Uganda. The study was buttressed by structural-functionalist, social conflict and power theories. The study employed a descriptive research design. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to determine samples. The study area was Lake Victoria transboundary between Kenya and Uganda. Philosophically, the study was critical since it contributed to a better understanding of the transboundary disputes and their management as well as forming a basis for future research. Findings indicated that the nature of L.V transboundary disputes and security management is territorial 45.35%, which rose due to contested state sovereignty with 55.49% of the total respondents affirming so. The study further found out that the economic value of the borderline was significantly high with 56.62% respondents declaring so. The study, therefore, concludes that, despite sustained efforts put to militate against the incessant L.V transboundary dispute, the dispute has continued unabated and economic security management jeopardized. The study recommends that Kenya and Uganda should come up with a trans-boundary resource policy that harmonizes policies, legislative acts, management and development of the shared water resource.