The effect of land conflicts on the livelihoods of refugees

Abstract

The study that was carried out in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, South Western Uganda sought to establish the causes of land conflicts, assess the effect of land conflicts on the livelihoods of refugees and the implications for refugee protection in Uganda. The research design was case study and largely qualitative although a small amount of quantitative data was included. Primary and secondary data were collected from a representative sample of 124 respondents. The study found out that competition for land between refugees themselves and host communities coupled with unclear land boundaries among other factors are responsible for the land conflicts in Nakivale settlement. Results show the prevalence of negative effects of land conflicts on the livelihoods of refugees. Land conflicts in refugee hosting areas have serious implications for refugee protection in Uganda.