Assessing the socio-economic life status of persons displaced by road projects in Uganda: a case of Bumbobi – Lwakhakha, Mbale district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the socioeconomic life status of people displaced by development post-compensation. The study was conducted in Mbale district, Bumbobi sub-county, approximately five kilometres from Mbale town in the villages of Masalire, Bukhumeka and Lukki. To fulfil the study objectives, the study employed an ethnographic research design and a qualitative methodology. Qualitative the researcher used Purposive sampling in selecting the study participants. The researcher also applied qualitative data collection techniques including document reviews, interviews, focus group discussions and observations to collect the qualitative data. The findings revealed that the Government compensated ninety three Percent of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) on the entire project, and a hundred percent for Bumbobi as a sub-county, forty one project affected persons lost structures and six of the structures were permanent. Regarding replacement, half of the permanent structures were replaced and sixty percent replacement of the temporary structures of the project affected persons that lost land (seventy one) only four percent were able to replace it. The percentage of land replacement was very low, less than four percent than expected giving reasons for partial displacement and higher land rates. The project affected persons did not find a reason for buying more land as a replacement. The study also revealed that fifty percent of the PAPs who lost land were able to put up new simple developments and businesses while the rest used the money for other ventures like school fees, drinking alcohol, and buying old vehicles among others. Therefore, half of the compensated PAPs in the Bumbobi sub-county could utilize the cash efficiently; many failed to achieve the intended objective of resettlement causing vulnerability and impoverishment. The study recommends alternative approaches to compensation apart from cash including strengthening and supporting the resettlement processes through government financing, monitoring of vulnerable PAPs, contentious engagement of the PAPs even to address cultural concerns, enhancing livelihood activities, compensation for business loss, and establishing a monitoring link between the local Government and the PAPS to support in the resettlement process and follow through even after the project is closed.