Small Arms Proliferation and Homegrown Terrorism in the Great Lakes Region: Uganda's Experience

Abstract

Illicit arms are responsible for high death rates in the Great Lakes region. The phenomenon of small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation owes to historical factors, porous borders, and the prevalence of regional armed conflicts that offer markets for illicit arms and is compounded by poor arms management and control measures within the region. The effects of SALW on the social, economic, and political arenas in Uganda and in other states in the region are enormous. Ad hoc measures and the lack of regional consensus in implementation allow illicit arms to flow to homegrown terrorists. Although not the only cause of homegrown terrorism, SALW have remained a significant driver in creating a fragile security environment in which homegrown terrorism thrives. This thesis addresses the causes and effects of SALW proliferation in Uganda and the Great Lakes region. Specifically, it explores the nexus between homegrown terrorism and SALW proliferation. The study concludes by providing policy recommendations to combat homegrown terrorism and the effects of SALW proliferation in Uganda and the Great Lakes region.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1031009

Entities

People

  • Polly K. Kamwesiga

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Counterterrorism
  • Employment
  • Foreign Relations
  • Globalization
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Security Personnel
  • Small Arms
  • Societies
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies