Refugee Protection and Environment in Mid-Western Uganda Case Study of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement Masindi District

ABSTRACT 

Uganda being a member of the international community, surrounded by conflict prone neighbors with unsecured borders, is consequently over burdened with the stress of hosting refugees generated from her neighboring countries and beyond. The topic of study was about the refugee’s protection and Environment. This study was therefore undertaken to establish the effectiveness of Refugee protect in relation to the environmental conservation in Kiryandongo refugee settlement. Cross-sectional Survey design was used because the data were collected one time from sampled population of the refugee and local Ugandans living within and around refugee settlement. Data were gathered by using open ended questionnaire instruments, informant interviews for key respondents, focus group discussions and observation methods. The total sample size of (115) included the respondents to the questionnaires and interviews was used to provide information for the study The main finding of the research was that; the activities of the refugees such as charcoal burning, clearing forest vegetation and bricks production among others have contributed negatively in the destruction of the natural vegetation cover and subsequently in soil erosion. These destructive activities resulted from poverty, lack of incentives to the refugees to conserve the environment they are living in and lack of sensitization of refugees and policy enforcement regime. It is therefore concluded that the refugees’ effect on the environment is a serious challenge which deserves a multipronged intervention mechanism from all relevant actors to ensure and further nurture the sustainability of the current settlement policy for refugees being implemented in Uganda. Several recommendations were made to specific authorities that include carrying out environmental audit assessment in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement areas, controlling and managing conflicts arising from competition over natural resources use, implementing the national environmental standards in order to control further destruction of the refugee camps and promoting tree planting programme.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES viii

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF PLATES x

DEFINITION OF TERMS xi

ACRONYMS xiii

ABSTRACT xiv

CHAPTER ONE I

INTRODUCTION I

1.1 Background to the Study 1

1.2 Problem Statement 4

1.3 Objectives 5

1.3.1 General Objective 5

1.3.2 Specific objectives 5

1.4 Research Questions 6

1.5 Scope of the Study 6

1.6 Significance of the Study 7

1.7 Conceptual Framework 7

CHAPTER TWO 9

LITERATURE REVIEW 9

2.1 Introduction 9

2.2 The effects of refugees on the environment of the host country 9

2.3 The roles of Stakeholders 11

2.3.1 Government 12

2.3.2UNHCR 13

2.3.3 Other Partners 13

2.4 Environmental Practices 14

2.5 Conclusion 16

CHAPTER THREE 17

METHODOLOGY 17

3.1 Introduction 17

3.2 Research Design 17

3.3 StudyArea 17

3.4 Population Sample 19

3.5 Sample Selection 19

3.6 Methods for Data Collection 20

3.6.1 Instruments 20

3.6.2 Sources of Data 22

3.7 Data Processing 22

3.8 Data Analysis 23

3.9 Quality Control 24

3.10 EthicalControl 24

3.11 Limitations of the Study 25

CHAPTER FOUR 26

PRESENTATIONS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS 26

4.1 Introduction 26

4.2 Socio-demographic Characteristics 26

4.2.1 Sex 26

4.2.2 Age 27

4.2.3 Marital Status 27

4.2.4 Composition of the Focus Group Discussions 28

4.2.5 Education 28

4.2.6 Occupation 29

4.3 Refugees Activities 29

4.4 Impact of Refugees’ activities on the environment 29

4.5 Other Causes of Environmental Degradation 35

4.6 Interventions for Conservation 43

4.6.1 Government 43

4.6.1.IOPM 43

4.6.1.2 NFA and NEMA 44

4.6.2 UNHCR 45

4.6.3 Implementing Agencies 48

4.6.4 Local Community 49

4.6.5 Refugees 49

4.7 Practices for conservation 49

4.8 Personal Note 53

CHAPTER FIVE 54

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 54

5.1 Introduction 54

5.2 Summary 54

5.3 Conclusions 55

5.4 Recommendations 57

5.4.1 Government of Uganda 57

5.4.2 UNHCR 57

5.4.3 Implementing Partners 58

5.4.4 International Community 58

5.4.5 General Recommendations 59

5.4.6 Areas for further research 59

REFERENCES .60

APPENDICES 63

APPENDIX A: QUESTIONAIRE FOR REFUGEES AND RELEVAW~STAKEHOLDERS IN MANAGEMENT OF REFUGEE AFFAIRS 63

APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR REFUGEES AND LOCAL UGANDANS 67

APPENDIX C: THE SKETCH BOUNDRY DEMARCATION MAP OF KIRYANDONGO SETTLEMENT SHOWING RANCH 1, 18 AND 37 RESPECTIVELY 68

APPENDIX 0: ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN KIRYANDONGO SETTLEMENT 69

APPENDIX E: PHOTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF THE STUDY 70

APPENDIX F: PERMISSION FROM OPM TO CARRY OUT THE RESEARCH 73

APPENDIX G: INTRODUCTORY LETTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY TO CARRY OUT THE RESEARCH 74

APPENDIX H: CORRESPONDENCE BY OPM TO UNHCR RELATED TO ENVIRONMENT 75

APPENDIX I: CORRESPONDENCE FROM INTER-AID ON FOREST ACTIVITIES/ENERGY CONSERVATION 76

APPENDIX J: CORRESPONDENCE FROM INTER-AID UGANDA ON WORKSHOP CONDUCTED 77

APPENDIX K: PROFILE FOR LIPRO UGANDA 78