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Report on Arms Trafficking in the Border Regions Of REPORT ON ARMS TRAFFICKING IN THE BORDER REGIONS OF SUDAN, UGANDA AND KENYA (A case Study of Uganda: North, Northeastern & Eastern) By Action For Development of Local Communities (ADOL) WITH SUPPORT FROM SWEDISH GOVERNMENT AND ACTION OF CHURCHES TOGETHER (ACT), NETHERLANDS. APRIL - JUNE, 2001. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................. 3 1.1. BACKGROUND 7 1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES, COVERAGE AND METHODOLOGY 8 2.0. RESEARCH FINDINGS ............................................................................ 10 2.1 MARKETS 10 2.2 ROUTES AND MODES OF ARMS TRAFFICKING 14 Map 2 showing Gun Market Belts 15 2.2 SOURCES OF SMALL ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS 16 2.3 DEALERS AND BUYERS OF SMALL ARMS AND AMMUNITIONS 17 2.4 NETWORKS AND OTHER METHODS OF ARMS ACQUISITION 18 Diagram 1: CURRENT NETWORK OF GUNS AND AMMUNITION SALES 20 2.5 EFFECTS OF GUN TRAFFICKING ON COMMUNITIES 21 2.6 EFFORTS TO CURB GUN TRAFFICKING 21 2.7 IMPACT OF GUN TRAFFICKING ON LOCAL ECONOMIES 23 3.0 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 25 APPENDICES .................................................................................................... 26 APPENDIX 1 26 APPENDIX 2 28 3 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The study was conducted in the districts of Moroto, Kotido, Nakapiripirit, Katakwi, Soroti, Kumi, Lira, Kitgum, Gulu, Pader, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, and Kapchorwa with the following objectives: ♦ Collect first hand data from local authorities, community leaders, businessmen, police personnel and the army on the sources and causes of arms trafficking in the border regions of Sudan, Uganda and Kenya. ♦ Collect information on the location of gun markets, the quantity of traded arms, and the motives for trading in arms and ammunitions as well as the networks in which the gun traffickers operate. ♦ Establish the provenance of the types of guns in the region and the manner they are being acquired. ♦ Determine the impact of illegal gun trade and trafficking on communities and local economies in the region. ♦ Ascertain attempts made to curb gun trafficking in the north and northeastern Uganda. A total of about 300 semi-structured interviews were held with community leaders, opinion leaders, kraal leaders and young warriors (Karachunas) These semi-structured interviews were supplemented by informal group discussions and observations. Another 100 questionnaires were administered to district political and civil service leaders, intelligence officers, civil servants, police and army personnel. The study identified markets and areas for guns and ammunition sales and routes for trafficking in most of the areas of study. In some of the markets, the buying and selling of firearms and ammunitions are done openly, while in others covertly through discrete contacts. Exchange arrangements between willing buyers and sellers often take place under disguise. There are defunct gun markets in the districts of Yumbe, Moyo and Adjumani along the Sudan–Uganda border. These were located mainly in the hills of West Nile. Gulu is a major internal source of guns and ammunitions according to the lower ranks of the security organs and civilian respondents. The arms and the ammunitions come from the UPDF armoury in Gulu Town with the connivance of well-placed security officers who provide protection for the racketeers. Some of these guns are those captured from LRA during clashes and ambushes. Most of the guns end up in the Karamoja region. In Kitgum district; mobile and designated gun markets are located in Lokung, Agoro/Aguru, Lututuru/Lugururu and Akilok. Along the Kotido-Sudan border, markets exist in Lobalangit, Kapedo, Kathile and Karenga/Napore in Dodoth County. There are also markets in Kacheri and Bar Tanga in Jie and Labwor counties respectively. In Moroto and Nakapiripirit districts guns markets flourish in Namalu, Matany, Nabilatuk, Amudat and Loroo. Guns and ammunition filter into Karamoja and Kapchorwa through markets in the counties of Dodoth, Matheniko, Katikekile and Pokot.. Market points keep on changing locations. In Moroto district, trading points are mainly in isolated areas like bushes and riverbanks. 4 A new AK47 costs US$70-$100 (i.e. UShs.100, 000/= to 150,000/=) at entry points; and US$270-$340 (i.e. UShs.400, 000/= to 500,000/=)1 in the interior. Bullet prices range from ten to seventy cents (i.e. 100/= to 1,000/=). Prices fluctuate reaching a peak between June and October when the Karamojong warriors intensify internal conflicts and cattle raids. Guns and ammunitions from Sudan pass through Dzaipi to Adjumani Town where the guns find their way to Gulu, Lira and eventually to Karamoja. Other guns to Adjumani come through Morobo in Yumbe district via Obongi in Moyo district. Guns sourced from outside Gulu Town come from Sudan to Adjumani through Atiak where they are either channeled to Kitgum or Lira and eventually into Karamoja. From Sudan, guns and ammunitions enter Kitgum district through Lokung, Lututuru and Agoro where they find their way to Karamoja through Orom, Akilok and Agago. Kenya is the main external source of guns for the Sabiny of Kapchorwa and the Pokot of Uganda (Nakapiripirit district). Arms come via Kanyao and Kangolai in Kenya to Kapchorwa through Suam. They are then transported to Pokot County through Karita. Some of these guns find their way into Bugisu. Guns from Sudan enter Kotido district through Nyangia, Kapedo Kathile and Kacheri where they eventually find their way to Moroto & Nakapiripirit districts. From Kenya, guns get into Karamoja through the Matheniko, Tepeth and Pokot of Uganda. The sources of guns are varied and have international dimensions. Guns originate mainly from the former Soviet bloc countries; China, North Korea, United Kingdom, Israel and United States of America. Small arms from these states pass through a number of countries before winding up in the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Kenya. Karamoja region is the major market for these arms. Internally the gun and ammunition dealers source their merchandise from the local representatives of the SPLA, renegade members of the officer corps and men of the UPDF and local defense units (LDUs). The other source of guns and ammunitions in Karamoja are inter-ethnic raids. The major dealers in small arms and ammunition trade are the Karamojong businessmen, rogue elements of the UPDF, LDUs, vigilantes and/or SPLA. The dealers use local collaborators as contact persons to access end users. In Karamoja region in particular, cattle raids and cattle trade are intimately linked to gun trafficking. Cattle traders buy guns and barter them for cattle as well as sell them through the Kraal network. In Kotido, tribes in Sudan such as the Didinga, Buya and Toposa directly trade in guns and ammunitions, most of which they obtain from SPLA. Businessmen and cattle traders from districts neighbouring Karamoja are also involved in arms trade. In Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya tribes bordering Uganda have access to light weapons and play a leading role in gun trafficking into the study area. The networks of these external suppliers of weapons are reinforced by the internal one of UPDF, LDUs and Vigilantes, kraal leaders, cattle traders and businessmen. Several factors were identified as contributing to increased arms trafficking. Among these were: 5 Inadequate security surveillance and border controls as well as instability in the neighboring countries of Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Poverty and availability of ready markets for arms and ammunitions perpetuated by protracted insurgency, ethnic/inter-clan rivalry, cattle rustling and poaching. Huge profit margins from the sale of arms that empowers the racketeers economically and politically. The quest for customized automatic weapons and ammunitions of different range, velocity and capacity to meet their respective needs of the customers. UPDF and LDU deployment in operational areas for long periods of time with little to do and without adequate pay and logistics. Small arms trafficking have impacted differentially on the communities in the study area. Overall, insecurity and poverty is rampant. There has been wanton destruction of lives, property and infrastructure. Development has stalled and social services delivery greatly constrained. Those most affected are the children, disabled, women and the elderly, who now live in internally displaced camps. In Karamoja where gun trafficking is prevalent, it has mainly caused: Breakdown of law and order rendering government administrative and cultural structures ineffective. Those bearing arms have no respect or loyalty to government, religion, parents or any authority. In other regions within the study area, gun trafficking has resulted in: De-stocking of these areas especially by the Karamojong warriors. Reduction in agricultural production due to decreased acreage and lack of animal traction, sometimes leading to chronic food stuff shortages. Agricultural and commercial activities in Adjumani and Moyo have significantly shrunk due to gun trafficking. Subsistence farmers face the danger of famine because they can no longer open up large farmland due to insecurity arising from small arms. Similarly, insecurity caused by armed robberies by thugs, Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) II, renegade UPDF soldiers and SPLA rebels involved in arms trafficking discourage entrepreneurship. In Acholi region, insurgency from guns trafficking has caused
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