The Impact Of Great Lakes Armed Conflicts On Security To Local Communities: The Case Of Kasulu District In Kigoma Region

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the impact of the armed conflicts in Great Lakes Region on security to local communities of Kasulu in Kigoma Region, Tanzania. The purpose of the study was to study the nature of the great lakes region conflict, its effects to the local communities in Tanzania, and the capacity challenges among the conflict stakeholders in addressing the problem in the region. This study was carried out in Kasulu District, Kigoma Region in the villages of Manyovu, Nyarubanda, Bisale and Mkongolo. A descriptive research technique was employed in this study in order to get hold of the status of the problem, effects and the strategies in place towards addressing it. Both random and purposive sampling designs were used to get a sample size of 100 respondents. Data from primary sources were gathered using questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews. Both qualitative and quantitative instruments were employed to analyze the field data. Generally, the findings from the study revealed that despite the presence of various measures that have been taken to address the phenomenon, there are still several problems on security matters that are due to the ongoing armed conflicts in the Great Lakes Region. Given the situation above, the study concludes that persistence of armed conflicts in the Great Lake Region poses a security dilemma that lead to massive impacts to the respective countries especially local communities like in the study area. The study, therefore, recommends that local and international actors should put together their efforts in search for a sustainable solution to the problem. This is important in order to avoid more problems that would affect peoples‟ lives and their properties: being forced to leave their farms with the fear created by the illegal immigrants, hunger and famine to some households, and lives of innocent people in the study area.