Assessing the impact of poverty on land use in Katakwi district: A case study of Palam Sub-county

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of poverty on land use in Palam Sub-County. It established the factors leading to poverty, found out specific ways in which factors that underlie poverty relate to land use in Palam Sub-county and established strategies being undertaken by different stakeholders to address the negative impacts of poverty on land use in Palam Sub-county. Case study as a methodological research design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches of data processing, collection, presentation and analysis were used by the researcher. It found out Climate Change, Laziness/negligence, Insecurity, Unemployment, Poor Farming methods, Alcoholism and Little Government Support. Illiteracy, Sickness, Poor road networks and Poor land use were other factors leading to poverty in Palam Sub county. Ways in Which Factors that Underlie Poverty Relate to Land Use were revealed by this study to be: Land Conflicts, Insecurity, Poor farming methods, Climate Change, Sale of land, deforestation, Unemployment, Soil Exhaustion and Loan security. On the other hand, strategies undertaken by the stakeholders to address negative impacts of poverty on land use according to the study were: Community Sensitizations, Settling land conflicts, Land Demarcations, Community Mobilization, educating children and Provision of trees. These were being undertaken by several stakeholders like: Clan Leaders, Area Land Committee members, NGOs and CBOs, SAS, Parish Chiefs, Politicians, the Police, Neighbors and Forestry Departments. The study concluded that, government had tried to introduce some programs like Poverty eradication plan (PEAP), National Development plan (NDP)Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) frame work to guide and facilitate this process the process of poverty alleviation. It however noted that, the implementation design could not fully alleviate poverty. It therefore affirmed that, poverty can be eradicated fully, but requires more efforts from government, other stakeholders and the community themselves