| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the potential for self-sustainability among the internally displaced
people in Gulu district, Northern Uganda. The objectives of the study included: examining
the nature of networking that exists among the IDPs, identifying gender relations involved
in building potential for self-sustainability, assessing the impact of relief assistance on the
IDPs, and finally assessing the possibility for resettlement and reintegration into
sustainable communities.
Literature reviewed included: Uganda's political overview, traditional social structure of
the Acholi, reasons for displacement into the camps, nature of social networks existing
among IDPs, gender relations among IDPs, impact of relief on IDPs and finally possibility
for resettlement. The theoretical framework used for the study included: Social network
theory, symbolic interaction theory and the Dependency theory. Two IDP camps
commonly referred to, as "protected villages": Unyama and Pabbo were selected sites for
the study in Gulu district. It was a purely qualitative study. The primary data was collected
through formal and informal interviews, Observation and later on supplemented with
secondary data obtained from different literature sources.
It was found out that the potential for self-sustainability among IDPs, was almost nonexistent.
People have very big problems that include that lack of basic necessities like;
land, food, housing, lack of access to income, poor health, insecurity and too much
alcoholism. Majority of the people cannot afford fulfilling their basic needs. As a result of
this appalling situation, the traditional network relations have totally broken down and
those that exist are very weak. The drunkards, prostitutes and a few networks based on
patronage exist but are also really weak. On gender relations as potential for selfsustainability,
we learnt that women have become the beasts of burden and are responsible
for the provision of household necessities. Many are now household heads. Relief
assistance has greatly tried to assist the IDPs on food and other necessities but it is very
unfortunate that it has created a generation of dependants. The IDPs are very willing to
return to sustainable communities but are very afraid of the insecurity in the region.
It has been recommended that government must immediately consider providing extra
security to the IDPs, aggressively work on restoring total peace in the region, and provide
adequate financial allocation to the region for provision of social services. Humanitarian
agencies should support initiation of activities that promote continuous interaction among
IDPs so that constructive networks can developed, and intensify advocacy activities
against camps and the magnitude of moral decadence among IDPs. The donors should
provide more funds to protection of IDPs and delivery of basic social necessities in the
areas of health, schools, among others.
Finally, the study concluded that the overall scarcity of basic resources and services in the
camps can not create any potential for self-sustainability among the IDPs, thus all the
stakeholders must join hands to restore peace for the people of Northern Uganda. This will
enable the displaced population to freely return to their original homes and resume their
normal roles in the households, community and country as a whole. | en |
