Effect of refugee settlements on household income a case study of Bweyale Town Council, Kiryandongo District

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to find out the effect of refugee settlements on the household income of the host community living in Bweyale town council, Kiryandongo district. The research mainly focused on a sample of 196 non-refugees which was got using simple random technique which was purposively where extensive quantitative research was conducted by use of questionnaires and observation. The study assessed the socio-demographic factors, the economic factors and non-refugees‟ attitudes and perceptions on refugees. The data obtained was captured in excel and analysis was done in Stata. Univariate analysis was carried out mainly using frequency tables since most of the variables were categorical data, bivariate analysis was also done where chi-square distribution was used and conclusions were made at 5% level of significance and lastly multivariate analysis was carried out. On the other side from the multivariate analysis, it is indicated that the education level of the person, kind of price change brought as a result of refugee settlements and kind of employment opportunity change brought as a result of refugee settlements are significant predictors of household income of the local people. In conclusion, refugee settlements contribute to the economic activity, job creation and prosperity of the local communities in many ways because majority of the local people concluded that refugees are business partners hence there is need for refugees to be given the opportunity to engage and work and freedom of movement because they are capable of making a contribution to the economy while cooperation between the refugees and non-refugees is minimal hence need for the government and the local communities to tighten up security in these local communities to create harmony and peace and provision of quality education. However further studies have to be done on the impact of refugee settlements on government revenue, the social impacts of refugee settlements, in other case studies such as Nakivaale refugee camp, Kyangwali refugee settlement and many others.