Executive Summary
In the face of armed attacks, insecurity, loss of agrarian livelihood systems, reduced food aid rations, and inadequate health and sanitation conditions, through what means do people in internal displacement camps and semi-settled villages in Kitgum district maintain themselves and their households? As the security situation improves or takes a turn for the worse, how do people adapt their livelihood and protective strategies? What movement patterns based on livelihood and protective strategies exist among people in the camps and the semi-settled villages? Who leaves the camps, why, for how long, and how do they attempt to stay safe? Which protective strategies work and why? Which strategies fail and who is the most exposed to risk in these circumstances? How do factors of gender and age play into all these responses and strategies? These questions are at the heart of research carried out by a team from the Feinstein International Center of Tufts University (1) in Kitgum district, north central Uganda, in March and April 2006. The report presents findings that seek to answer these questions. The report documents and analyzes shifts in livelihood and protective strategies as people attempt to provide for themselves and their households and respond to insecurity and threats (.2)
The findings of this study are particularly timely given the current situation of increased population movement in northern Uganda. These movements are due to a variety of factors, including the current cessation of hostilities between the armed forces of the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA); pressure by the GoU on camp inhabitants to return home; reduction in food assistance to those in the camps; and the desire of some to leave the crowded conditions of the camps. Many people are on the move in northern Uganda, whether moving in and out of camps as part of daily or seasonal livelihood strategies, moving to 'satellite' or 'decongestion' camps, moving between camps and semi-settled villages, or returning home.
The findings of this study provide important insights into what prompts people to stay in camps, leave camps, re-enter villages or re-establish villages. It offers insight into the dynamics of movement among these locations and helps to more clearly identify push and pull factors. Throughout, it provides a careful gender and generational analysis in order to provide a greater understanding of how different categories of people have developed livelihood and protective strategies to meet their needs and the needs of their households. The report puts forward information on the types of risk faced by different groups of people and the protective strategies developed in attempt to mitigate these risks. The report highlights where protective strategies are working and why, where they fail and why, and who is at heightened risk when these strategies fail. The report ends with a forward looking conclusion that underscores the study's main findings and reflects on how these findings can be applied to on-going and future work in northern Uganda.
(pdf* format - 1.3 MB)