Using Land to Promote Refugee Self-Reliance in Uganda

Around the world, number of people displaced from their homes continues to increase due political conflict and climate change. The Ugandan government’s policy for settling refugees shifts focus seeing as humanitarian obligations recognizing that refugee settlements bring improved services infrastructure can serve both residents host communities. A key aspect this is provide with land use rights, so they are able achieve “self-reliance”. This research investigates (1) role planning in establishing physical layout Bidi Bidi, Uganda’s largest integrated settlement, (2) community’s rationale allowing access land, (3) how used land. Based on interviews, participant observation, GIS analysis, document we learned altered settlement’s better meet needs, unintended consequences large- scale deforestation most vulnerable, limitations land-based approach self-reliance. These findings suggest expanding avenues self-reliance, improving “integration” service provision between community, protecting area’s environment maintain needed resources.