Title: Livelihood adaption to displacement and resettlement due to oil refinery in Uganda

Displacement and resettlement due to natural resources extraction and infrastructural development is known to be associated with impoverishments globally. In the Albertine region of Uganda, including the Hoima District, displacement and resettlement have resulted in loss of assets and livelihood resources, yet the exploratory and infrastructural development activities are still at the infancy stage. This study therefore assessed how households are adapting in relocation areas, constraints affecting adaption strategies of men and women, and ways to improve adaption strategies of displaced people. Qualitative information was gathered by interviews and focus group discussions with people receiving different types of compensation, and the host community of those formally resettled. The results of the study indicated that, farming remains a dominant activity where rural communities make a living. Although there were no variations observed in activities undertaken as coping strategies by men and women, divorced women and widows found it difficult to adjust to the situation, as they must take up all activities and responsibilities for the family. Displaced communities face several challenges such as reduced access to land, water and fuelwood, making it difficult to rebuild their livelihoods in relocation areas. Lack of access to infrastructural facilities including roads, markets, schools, and health centres was emphasized during interviews and affected the coping strategies of displaced households in relocation areas. The government needs to fulfil the promises of providing infrastructural facilities both to resettled people and host communities. There is a need to ensure that important resources such as trees and water that women are so dependent on in their daily activities are easily accessed in relocation areas to minimize walking long distances and time wastage. The request made by displaced people to build resettlement houses in their own identified land would minimize complaints about too small compounds and lack of privacy and help polygamous families to relocate together.