Assessment of the Economic Impact of Refugee Settlement on Local Household: A Case Study of Pagirinya, Adjumani District

Abstract

This study examined the impact of the refugees and the refugee settlement on the host community. The general objective of the study was to examine and investigate the economic impact of the refugee settlement on the host community. The objectives of the study were Understanding the changes that the refugees and the refugee camp brought to the host community, Understanding the economic changes brought by the refugees that affect the host community, To measure the welfare impact the commoners get from the refugee settlement inform of income and employment and to measure the market interactions between the refugees and local households. This study was designed using survey research design which is descriptive, explanatory and analytical where all the findings were explained and described in details. The study used information obtained from the field by using primary data. Primary data was revealed by respondents living near refugee settlement using survey questioners for easy analysis of data. Data collected was analysed, processed and presented in graphs and tables. It is clear that the establishment of the refugee camp in Pagirinya attracted many Sudanese refugees in the area, this has dramatically changed the demography of the area and later led to the expansion of the town, the pressure of natural environment, booming of trade etc. this was not only the feature in Pagirinya but all over Adjumani District in Nyumanzi and other refugee settlement areas. The study recommended that they should promote good relations between refugees and host communities. While the findings find there is a generally good relation between self-settled refugees and host communities in Adjumani District, the continuation of such a relation should not be assumed. Furthermore, there were concerning reports of tension between Ugandans and camp-based refugees.