Doctoral Thesis (Development Studies)

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    Assessment of park resource use by local communities as an incentive strategy for natural resources conservation in protected area : the case of Rwenzori Mountains National park adjacent communities
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2012-09) Ochen, Ismael Ochen
    Assessment of park resource use by local communities as an incentive strategy for natural resources conservation in protected areas was carried out in communities adjacent to Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP). Since 2008, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) signed 14 Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with local communities in 15 parishes around RMNP to access dry bamboo, firewood, medicinal plants and mushrooms. There was increased pressure from local communities for resources in the park which had strained the relationship between the park management and the communities. There were also increased illegal activities such as poaching and pit sawing because of negative attitudes towards the park. As a response, 14 MOUs for resource use were signed with communities in 15 parishes adjacent to the park in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. The purpose of resource access was to allow communities access some resources from the park, so as to reduce conflict with communities and increase their participation in park management. This was to enhance conservation of natural resources in the park. The overall objective of the study was to assess park resource use a strategy for natural resources conservation in protected areas. The specific objectives were to assess the resources accessed from RMNP by local communities, the effects of resource use on natural resources conservation, the effectiveness and sustainability of resource use as an incentive strategy for natural resources conservation in protected areas. The research was undertaken between February and May 2012 in communities that were allowed by UWA to access park resources and among staff of UWA working in RMNP. It involved qualitative and quantitative approach using questionnaires, focus group discussions, key interviewees and individual interviewees. Data was collected from 100 community members, 9 park rangers working in RMNP, 6 key interviewees using interview schedules, questionnaires and key interviewees/focus group discussion guide respectively. The study found that resource access has improved relationship between the communities and the park management. There was increased reporting of incidence of illegal activities cited in the park which they had been condoning before resource use. When resource access was formally begun, selective harvesting of only dry bamboos and wood, use of only gazatted paths and cultural sites were promoted. Timeframe for harvesting resources were also agreed by communities to ensure optimal control for sustainability. However the study found instances where resource access hinders conservation of natural resources in the park. There is littering in the park by resource users with polythene and human wastes such as feces and urine. Similarly domestic animals transported through the park also litter with their wastes. These increases risk of infecting wild animals especially apes with human diseases. However, Resource Access Strategy is effective because it has managed to change communities’ negative attitudes towards the park. It is recommended that, UWA should regulate charges levied by Resource Use Committees for accessing some resources to increase affordability. Resource Use Committees should have duty rota to ensure full participation of all members of the committees. The Government of Uganda should also formulate policies to guide and regulate resource use in protected areas.
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    An investigation of legal aid's contribution to quality of life of people living with and affected by HIV : the case of UGANET
    (2012-10) Asio, Angela Jemima Etochu
    The research was conducted to investigate the contribution of legal aid to the improvement of the conditions and quality of life of persons living with and affected by HIV. The study involved ten (10) legal aid beneficiaries who received legal aid from UGANET between 2008 and 2011. In addition to these, five (5) Local Council leaders from villages of the targeted beneficiaries were engaged in the study. Also targeted by the study were four (4) legal officers from UGANET. The researcher was guided by four research questions that were derived from the objectives of the study. These questions were the following; What complaints of human rights violations does UGANET register from persons living with and affected by HIV?; What strategies does UGANET use to respond to the complaints received from persons living with and affected by HIV; What effects have UGANET interventions had on beneficiaries?; and What challenges does UGANET face in providing legal aid to persons living with and affected by HIV? The research was conducted by the help of a case study design. UGANET was used as the case study for the investigation. The research findings revealed that UGANET registers various human rights violations from people living with and affected by HIV. These include; property grabbing, maintenance, child neglect and abuse, threatening violence, cases for custody, inheritance matters, land disputes, domestic violence and cases of unlawful detention. These rights are mainly violated by men but also by other categories of perpetrators such as relatives of deceased husbands, mothers, step-mothers and government structures such as Rapid Response Unit and Uganda Prisons. To address the human rights violations reported to by people living with and affected by HIV, UGANET uses legal support and protection, research, advocacy and policy influencing, social accountability and policy monitoring programs as strategies to address complaints of human rights violations reported by people living with and affected by HIV. The provision of legal aid has made possible the re-union of families that would otherwise have fallen apart; Legal aid has ensured the recovery of property for mostly women beneficiaries by enforcing property and inheritance rights; and finally, legal aid contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of persons living with and affected by HIV by making them aware of their rights. The gap however in the contribution of legal aid is that many of the people who need legal aid are neither aware of their rights nor of the existence of legal aid service providers. This prevents them from seeking to protect these rights. Thus it is recommended to UGANET advocacy department to raise awareness of their existence among the indigent; it is also recommended to Uganda’s Ministry of Justice to make quality legal aid accessible for all poor and vulnerable citizens in the country; and it is recommended to donors to consider funding legal aid for persons living with and affected by HIV. Through funding legal aid Donors can contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of persons living with and affected by HIV.
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    Acculturation and wellbeing of refugees: a study of Somalis in Kampala-Uganda
    (University of Melbourne, 2015) Balyejjusa, Senkosi Moses
    Although there is substantial research on refugee acculturation in developed and industrialised countries, there is limited research on the same within Africa in general and Uganda in particular. This study fills this gap by investigating, analysing and describing Somali refugees’ acculturation strategies, ways in which Ugandans influence Somali refugees’ acculturation and the relationship between Somali refugees’ acculturation and their wellbeing. In this thesis I argue that Somali refugees’ acculturation is selective and purposive, and contextual. The selective and purposive actions of Somali refugees are determined by the expected benefits from a particular behaviour, availability of alternatives, situational and individual factors. On the other hand, the contextual factors such as the multi-cultural and religious nature of the host community, laws promoting refugee freedoms and rights, Somali refugees’ residential status and perceived dissimilarity between the cultures of the two groups independently influenced Somali refugees’ acculturation and wellbeing. More importantly, these contextual factors also influenced Somali refugees’ selective and purposive actions in some respects. I conclude by showing that the combination of selective and purposive actions and contextual factors demonstrates Somali refugees’ exercise of socio-culturally mediated agency during their acculturation process and in pursuance of their wellbeing.