Refugees Adaptability on the Peaceful Coexistence with the Host Communities. A Case of Rwamwanja Refugee Camp- Uganda

Abstract

This article looks at the possible ways for refugees to have peaceful coexistence of refugees with their hosts based on an understanding of the causes of conflict between refugees and host communities and how the existence of refugees impacts the lives of the host communities which also has a bearing on peaceful coexistence. Based on the descriptive design that employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the results are that there is a relationship between causes of conflicts and the peaceful coexistence of refugees in the Rwamwanja refugee settlement. The article also indicates that political incitement was the main cause of conflict, that illiberal and illiterate people within and outside the camp provided leeway for violence, and this affected peace negatively. The article further indicated that poverty, inequality, and marginalization or lack of respect were the major reasons for violence in the Rwamwanja refugee settlement.  The article recommends that the government and the settlement management should initiate sustainable livelihoods through small-scale businesses among the people in the settlement to shock-absorb idleness and unemployed refugees and host community members who are blamed for violent inter-ethnic conflict. The article further recommends that Nongovernmental organizations and other religious societies, self-help groups, and Districts efforts should be strengthened by the government of Uganda and other stakeholders to aid in poverty reduction initiatives and promotion of peaceful coexistence among the refugees and host communities for socio-economic development in the area. Further at the policy level peaceful coexistence between refugee and host communities is possible if approaches like the degree that locals recognized their benefits from projects and services provided to refugees, clear guidelines for implementing local integration, including readily available information for refugees, guide how to distribute resources or implement programs, host governments should be clear towards local integration, meet their responsibilities to improve socio-economic conditions in areas affected by protracted refugee situations and support the full integration of refugees instead of confining them to camps.