Compensation packages and implications for social networks among development-induced displaced persons in Uganda’s Albertine Graben

ABSTRACT

The study aimed at understanding the implications of compensation packages for the social networks of displaced persons in Uganda’s oil-rich Albertine Graben. Questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and observations were used to obtain data from purposively selected respondents. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis while quantitative data analysis entailed generating descriptive statistics (percentages) and inferential analysis was performed through cross-tabulation by way of chi-square tests. There was a significant association between compensation type and social network distortion for the affected groups (p = 0.000). Institutional management of different compensation packages exhibited professional shortcomings that need to be addressed to build sustainable social networks such as credit facilities. We thus recommend that government involves all stakeholders at every development phase and that compensation rates are continuously updated to allow for fair compensation rates in future and effective resettlement procedures during induced-displacement and resettlement processes.

KEYWORDS:

• Development policy
• social exclusion
• sustainability

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the PELIBIGO project funded by the Energy and Petroleum (EnPe) Programme of NORAD. We also thank the Political and Technical Leadership of Hoima District that supported us during the fieldwork, as well as the displaced communities of Kabaale Parish who agreed to interact with us, despite their long wait for relocation to Kyakabooga Modern Village.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frank Mugagga

Frank Mugagga is an Associate Professor of Environmental Geography and currently Head - Department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climatic Sciences, Makerere University - Uganda.

Leonida Tibakunirwa

Leonida Tibakunirwa holds an MA (Geography) obtained from Makerere University, Uganda. She currently works as a Teacher of Geography in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda.

Paul Musali

Paul Musali is a Lecturer of Strategic and Environmental Assessments in the Department of Environmental Management, Makerere University, Uganda.