The performance of Lake Mburo Resettlement Scheme : an evaluation

Abstract

The study evaluates the performance of Lake Mburo Resettlement Scheme. The emphasis was on establishing the nature and level of both successes and shortcomings of government efforts to resettle and resuscitate the erstwhile 1981-1986war displaced persons into self-reliant and self-sustaining citizens. The study critically looks at whether the implementation of the scheme was effected after comprehensive consultation and planning, the nature of assistance given to resettlers, the extent to which resettlers were engaged in productive and income generating activities, the nature and status of social infrastructure in place, and the extent to which environmental awareness and conservation have been inculcated in the resettled people, the extent the resettled people are involved in policy making, the relationship between the resettled people and the National Park and the problems faced by the school. The study design was exploratory. It includes semi-structured interview schedule, key informants guide and observation guide. A sample of 200 heads of households out of the 980 resettled families was studied. The study also involved 23 key informants. The study findings were that the Scheme was effectively planned yet the displaced people were never consulted on being resettled in the Scheme; the resettled people received assistance in form of land, food, and transport facilities among others, this assisted them to settle down; the resettled people are engaged in productive and income generating activities but are yet to become self-sufficient; education and health facilities are commendable, although water and road infrastructure are still inadequate; environmental awareness and the need for conservation have been inculcated among the resettled people; the resettled people are to some extent being involved in the policy making process of the scheme. The relationship between the scheme and the Park is strained but useful to each other; the Scheme is beset with a number of problems ranging from water shortage, destruction of crops by animals from the Park and insufficient incomes among others. It has been recommended that extensive efforts should be geared towards the planning and the designing of the critical early stages of resettlement; Government and relief bodies need to assist resettlers maximally during the "take-off' stage. That combined efforts from all stakeholders are needed to enable the resettled people fully engage in productive and income generating activities: environmentally conscious mode of life need to be continuously promoted; government need to provide mechanism for transparent popular fora and sensitize resettlers on matters affecting them. The relationship between the Scheme and the Park should be promoted by tackling problems and areas of common interest together towards an efficient and effective resuscitation of people resettled in Lake Mburo Resettlement Scheme.