Initiatives for the control of small arms and light weapons in East Africa and their outcomes

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons SALWs in the East African region has negatively impacted national and regional security. Porous and expansive borders, corruption and instability in the region, commercialisation of cattle rustling, weak governments and the presence of ungoverned spaces in the region have facilitated the proliferation of SALWs in the region. The purpose of this research was to explore the initiatives adopted by Kenya and Uganda, both individually and collaboratively, for the control of the proliferation of SALWs in East Africa. The study was guided by the regionalism theory of interstate cooperation and a descriptive survey design. The sampled respondents, totaling 55, were drawn from security agencies, civil society members, foreign relations offices, non-state actors, and religious leaders. Instrumentation encompassed questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interviews. The qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis and presented in its original form, while the quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented using tables and graphs. The study found that, by understanding the challenges and dynamics at play, stakeholders would certainly implement strategies that not only control the spread of the dangerous but also address the underlying causes of violence and insecurity in the study area. The article showed that various initiatives, including disarmament programmes and legislative and regulatory measures, were in place in the Kenya-Uganda border effort. Various outcomes of the control of proliferation merged, as the results show that 75% strongly agreed that, to a large extent, specific goals and objectives set for each initiative have been achieved. The study suggests strengthening human resource capacity, utilizing technology for surveillance, and enhancing the terms and conditions of security forces in the EA countries.