Socioeconomics factors and refugee's choice of residence in Uganda: a case of Bweyale camp and Kabowa settlement camp

Abstract

The study investigated socio economic factors and refugees choice of residence in Uganda: a case of Bweyale refugee camp and Kabowa settlement camp. The Independent Variable of the study was socio economic factors in terms of income, prior networks and educational status of the household heads while the dependent variable was refugee’s choice of residence. The target population was 100 refugees and a sample size of 80 respondents (Yamane method 1967) was selected using simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected using Questionnaires. Quantitative was collected, quantitative data was analyzed using Descriptive statistics. The overall response rate was 100%, the study found that that most refugees knew about their current settlement camp through their friends/relatives either in South Sudan or Uganda which means that prior networks influence the choice of residence of refugees. The study also found that refugee’s choice of residence was influenced by educational status of the household heads and the study found that refugee’s choice of residence is influenced by income of the household heads. The study therefore concluded that prior networks, educational status of the household heads and average monthly income of the household heads influenced the choice of residence of refugees.