This study’s objective was to develop a report to support the delivery of services and sustainable inclusive development that leverages a vibrant private sector in the refugee hosting and impacted Local Government (LGs).

The report is part of the efforts by the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) with the support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund through the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) programme. Though the study focused on the selected LGs in Northern Uganda, the findings and resultant recommendations for policy, legal and implementation reforms are applicable across the country.

The influx of refugees into Northern Uganda has had significant impact on the capacity of the local governments to deliver services to the population that includes local communities and refugees. The remedies require revisiting the legal, policy and partnership arrangements to fully integrate the local governments that are at the core of the efforts to deliver both humanitarian and development initiatives. In addition, the local governments need to be empowered to attract and support growth of a viable private sector to ensure adequate local economic development. This will not only create more opportunities for host communities and refugees but also increase local refugees.

The study looks to achieve the following goals:

• Strengthen the management of refugees at the local level following the influx that came in from 2013 onwards increasing the potential for a humanitarian crisis.
• Enhance access to basic social services by ensuring effective delivery systems by empowering the respective LGs through adequate integration of refugee management processes with the district/municipal planning, financing and implementation mechanisms.
• Expand economic opportunities in the respective LGs and the entire DINU area in order to guarantee sustainable livelihoods for both host communities and refugees as the later transition to the development.
• Develop environmental sustainability for both hosting communities and refugees given the increased pressure on natural resources mainly land, vegetation and water whose deterioration can increase tensions and undermine social cohesion.
• Promote private sector participation in local economic development (LED) by increasing its capacity and provision of the right incentives and facilitation of investments initiatives.
• Enhance the process of shifting focus from humanitarian approaches along to include development initiatives in light of the strong nexus between the two (humanitarian and development) for both refugees and host communities.

The Findings:
The bulk of the refugees in the country at the end of August 2020 were from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo that accounted for 90 percent of the total. It is, therefore, not surprising that the study area is heavily impacted by the presence of refugees.

To learn more, read full report HERE.