In this thesis, the author attempts to establish whether there is evidence supportive of an implicit postulation in scholarship on refugee local integration suggesting a relationship between refugee local integration and refugee related violence. Employing integrated education service as a proxy for refugee local integration, the thesis carries a plausibility probe of a hypothesis stating that “Refugee local integration provides avenues for interdependent interactions that contribute to the mitigation of refugee related violence”. The hypothesis is constructed with the aid of scholarship on intergroup relations, particularly: social identity theory and realistic group theory. To carry out the plausibility probe, the author employs the case study method of Structured Focused Comparison to compile and analyse research data on the cases of CRRF implementing countries, Kenya and Uganda, that is later compared. The thesis concludes that there is evidence indicative of a relationship between local integration and refugee related violence. However, its only through further studies, disaggregating the various components of local integration and refugee related violence, that the afore mentioned relation can be confirmed.

In 2016, member states of the United Nations, by consensus, adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, in which they also agreed to the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). The framework, arguing for a multi-stakeholder inclusive approach that includes local authorities, was suggested to be a progressive step in establishing an international regime offering predictability in dealing with large scale refugee movements, placing focus on self-reliance, economic inclusion, and support for both refugees and host communities. The CRRF was inserted in the Global Compact on Refugees adopted by UN General Assembly in December 2018. This thesis sets out to enunciate the involvement of local governments as stakeholders in the CRRF and to explore the role of this stakeholder status in refugee local integration solutions, with Uganda as an exemplifying case of refugee hosting countries implementing the CCRF. As an entry point, the thesis posits the following research question: “As stakeholders in the comprehensive refugee response framework, what is the role of local governments in refugee local integration in Uganda?”. The thesis utilizes concepts including stakeholders, local government, decentralisation and integration to construct an analytical framework employed by the thesis.  The thesis claims that as stakeholders in the CRRF, local governments are relevant in enhancing refugee local integration, but this role can only be maximized if and when the decentralized functions and structures of local government are adequately utilised by other stakeholders in the CRRF including the central government and international community. Local governments, under the right circumstances, potentially play a role in ensuring host communities do not impede the enjoyment of refugee rights by mediating refugee-host community relations. But as it stands; the political, administrative, and fiscal functions of local government in Uganda are yet to be adequately harnessed by CRRF structures.