Relationship Between Refugees and Host Communities in Western Uganda: A Case Study of Nakivale Refugee Camp

ABSTRACT The study investigated the relationship between refugees and host communities in western. The study was set to investigate the relationship between refugees and host community in Nakivale, the strategies that may be applied to manage the conflict between refugees and host communities, and the challenges faced by refugees a result of restriction to Camps. Primary data was gathered using questionnaires and interview guide. Secondary data was obtained through analyzing related literature from books, newspapers, reports and journals. The study composed of 120 respondents selected using stratified random sampling technique. The respondents included refugees, local council leaders, community members and NGO/CBO. The study established that social amenities, decision making, donations and representation in local councils were cited issues that relate refugees and host communities. Community dialogue, community peace advocacy associations, and community workers were some of the strategies to control conflicts between refugees and host communities. Increased crime rate, inadequate social amenities, and child mortality were found to be the challenges faced by refugees in concentrated camps in Nalcivale. The study concluded that one needs to understand that the environment in which refugees live is an important aspect for their social wellbeing and the community that hosts them. It is important that refugees be empowered, fully facifitated if they are to produce desirable results and control conflicts between refugees and host communities. The researcher recommends that that there should be measures to reduce child death by providing health and education facifities to the refugees. This will help to reduce on school dropout and high mortalities. It is also recommended that sensitization and mobilization of the communities should be emphasized so that they can come to understand and appreciate the programs offered by the government to refugees. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION A i

DECLARATION B ii

APPROVAL SHEET Di

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

ABSTRACT x

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES viii

ACRONYMS ix

C~E~ ONE: INTRODUCTION0 0 00000 0 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0*0000 0 0 0 0 0 00 1

1.1 Overview 1

1.1.1 Background o f the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 2

1.3 Purpose of the study 3

1.4 Research objectives 3

1.5 Research Question 3

1.6 Scope of study 3

1.7 Significance of the study 4

1.7 Conceptual frame work 5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW,...000000000000000000000000000000000000000. 6

2.1 Introduction 6

2.2 Theoretical framework 6

2.3 Relationship between refugees and host community 8

2.4 Strategies that may be applied to manage the conflict between Refugees

and host communities 11

2.5 Challenges faced by refugees a result of restriction to camps 13

C~ER ThREE: ~THODOLOG~Y~ 0 0 0 0 000 00 0 000 000 0000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 00 0 0 0 000000 0 00 16

3.1 Overview 16

3.2 Research design 16

3~3 Research population 16

304 Sampling size and Sampling procedure 17

vi

3.5 Research instruments~17

3.5.1 Questionnaire 17

3.5.1 Interview 17

3.5.3 Documentary sources 18

3.6 Validity and Reliabffity 18

3.6.1 Validity 18

3.6.2Reliabffity 18

3.7 Data gathering procedure 18

3.8 Data analysis 19

3.9 Ethical considerations 19

3.10 Limitations 19

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF

DATA.  21

4.1 Introduction 21

4.2 Social Characteristics of the Respondents 21

4.3 Relationship between refugees and host community in Nakivale 24

4.4 Strategies applied to manage conflicts between refugees and host

communities 27

4.5 Challenges faced by refugees a result of restriction to Camps in Nalcivale  30

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOM~~NDATIONS .•.,,,...,, 35

5.0 Overview 35

5.1 CONCLUSIONS 35

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 36

REFERENCES 38

APPENDICES 40

Appendix A: Questionnaire for refugees, business persons, Local council

leaders, and NGO5 in Nakivale refugee camp, Isingiro district 40

Appendix B: Interview guide for NGO/CBOS in Nakivale refugee camp .43