Master of Research and Public Policy

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    Implementation of the Refugee Policies: A Case of Refugee Land Rights in Nakivale Refugee Settlement
    (Uganda Christian University, 2023-09-08) Ivan Senyonjo
    The study examined the implementation of the refugee policies: a case of refugee land rights in Refugee Settlement Camp in Nakivale. This research was guided by three objectives: identifying the implementation mechanisms of the refugee land rights policies, reviewing the implications of implementing refugee policies; a case of refugee land rights on local communities and reviewing the implications of implementing of refugee policies; a case of refugee land rights on refugees. The research was conducted using a descriptive survey research design and specifically employing a mixed methods approach. Purposive and simple random sampling was used to get a sample of 123 respondents that were interrogated in this study. Data was collected using questionnaires with 103 refugees and nationals from Nakivale Refugee Settlement and interviews with 20 government officials. Findings, of the study reveal that there is still a high level of ignorance among the refugees and the local communities about the refugee land rights in Uganda as the government has not done enough to sensitize these people about these laws and how they work which could be one of the reasons for the continued conflicts between host communities and refugees. However, despite of the increase in the number of refugees in Refugee Settlement camp in Nakivale, the government has tried to ensure that they provide land to the refugees to enable them practice farming and produce their own food for sustainability purposes. Furthermore, the study findings conclude that the right to possess land or distributing land to the refugees rests with the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda. Finally, it can be noted that the available refugee land rights are fair; however, the challenge has come with the implementation of these refugee land rights since the refugees feel that the government and international organisations are not doing much in enforcing these rights. Finally, the study recommends the need for the government through its different stakeholders like the Prime Minister’s Office; needs to take a lead in ensuring that all the people in the refugee camps are made aware of their rights to land ownership. The government through the Parliament and the legal team need to embark on the process of amending the refugee land ownership policies. Finally, there is need to put tough punishments for the people that do not respect refugee land rights.