Matek
Gun Trade Increases
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New Vision (Kampala)
December 19, 2003
Posted to the web December 19, 2003
Henry Mukasa
Kampala
THE value of guns among East African pastoral tribes has gone down due to proliferation of arms in the region.
According to a preliminary report by the East African Community (EAC), an AK47 rifle is bartered for three head of cattle among cattle rustlers of Kenya and Uganda.
The report says initially the gun was worth 60 cows. The report, compiled by the EAC sub-committee on cattle rustling, aimed at finding the causes of and remedies to the problem.
"The cost of the gun among the rustlers has fallen due to proliferation of guns from the conflict areas in the region. In other cases the rustlers have better guns than the security forces," said committee chairperson, Sheila Kawamara (Uganda), recently.
She said the problem affected even the hitherto stable Kenya and Tanzania.
The report recommends a regional authority to ensure the disarmament of the pastoralists and provision of security to all the citizens.
It criticises arming civilians for self-defence. The report blames politicians who condone rustling for selfish ends.
It says women and children have borne the brunt of the violence. The report recommends medical and psycho-socio treatment for the traumatised victims.
