The Effectiveness of Green Militarization in Enhancing Uganda’s National Security in Mt. Elgon Region, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

This article examines the role of green militarization—the strategic deployment of military and paramilitary forces in support of environmental conservation—and its effectiveness in enhancing Uganda’s national security, with specific reference to the Mt. Elgon region in Eastern Uganda. Situated within a context of historical insurgency, illegal natural resource exploitation, and persistent human–wildlife conflict, the study adopts a mixed-methods sequential exploratory design. Qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussions, followed by a quantitative survey administered to 100 respondents from communities adjacent to Mt. Elgon National Park. Findings indicate that green militarization has contributed significantly to the reduction of illegal logging, poaching, and armed group activity, thereby strengthening territorial control and ecological integrity. However, the study also identifies challenges related to community–security relations, livelihood restrictions, and capacity gaps among security personnel. The article argues that green militarization is most effective when implemented through integrated frameworks that combine enforcement with community participation, joint training, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and inclusive governance structures. Such an approach enhances both ecological sustainability and comprehensive national security. The study demonstrates that green militarization has played a critical role in enhancing Uganda’s national security by safeguarding ecologically strategic landscapes, disrupting organized environmental crime, and reinforcing state authority in previously contested spaces such as the Mt. Elgon region. While enforcement-driven conservation has yielded measurable ecological and security gains, its long-term effectiveness depends on the extent to which it is embedded within inclusive, participatory, and development-oriented frameworks. A positive and sustainable model of green militarization requires structured joint training programs that equip security forces, conservation authorities, and community actors with skills in ecological management, conflict resolution, and civil–military cooperation. Furthermore, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms derived from conservation revenues, alongside institutionalized multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms, are essential for building trust and legitimacy. When aligned with human security principles, green militarization emerges not as a coercive tool but as a collaborative governance strategy that integrates environmental protection with national security imperatives. The study therefore concluded that adaptive, community-sensitive green militarization offers a viable pathway for achieving sustainable conservation outcomes and resilient national security in Uganda and comparable contexts.