Abstract:
The study aimed at establishing the impact of Batwa settlement patterns on their social economic development in Kisoro Municipality. The study was guided by objectives which included; to assess the causes of Batwa settlement patterns in Kisoro Municipality, to investigate the challenges faced by Batwa community in Kisoro Municipality and to identify strategies to the challenges faced by Batwa and enhance social economic development in Kisoro Municipality. A case study research design was used by adopting qualitative and participatory approach methods. A sample size of twenty eight respondents was selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data collection was done using focus group discussions and interviews. Findings of the study indicated that Batwa faced a lot of challenges such as landlessness and women were at the center of different forms of violations compared to men, although both genders are experiencing some level of vulnerability and challenges such as racism, discrimination and human rights violations. Different institutions such as NGOs, churches and individual Batwa organizations (UOBDU) tried to solve the challenge of the landlessness Batwa face but there are still more needed to implement and protect their land rights as other ethnic groups in Uganda. The study recommended that there is need for mass sensitization throughout Batwa communities and for men to accept that a woman getting into higher positions of leadership is not a cultural degradation but rather an opportunity for all Batwa strong people who can advocate for their rights rather than outsiders fighting for them. The issue of resettling Batwa done by different stakeholders was an effort to improve their situation, but it is not solving it because the given lands have no legal documents that confirm the Batwa's of their ownership. In cases of conflicts between the Batwa over land, it became hard to settle such disputes without documents of ownership showing clear land boundaries. Most of the projects set by NGOs required land set up, and without land their implementation wass hindered. However, such projects should also promote Batwa's cultures such that their cherished traditional identity is maintained rather than projects that aim to change them to be like the dominant societies. Therefore, for proper sustainability of such projects, Batwa must be consulted on what they feel is good for their community other than imposing on them a project which might not be of their interest.
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