Assessing Uganda’s approach to refugee management

Abstract

Uganda has what is widely regarded by the international community to be a progressive approach to refugee management, outlined in the state’s 2006 Refugee Act which provides refugees with the right to land, free movement, and employment in the country, according to the 1951 Geneva Convention for Refugees. of which Uganda is a signatory. The country’s policies and proposed programs for refugees support the integration of refugee with host communities, as well as increased self-sufficiency of refugee populations. The intent behind Ugandan policies is to reduce the burden of support of refugee populations on both the Ugandan government and international organizations working in the country. Thus, Ugandan refugee policies in theory have the potential to be mutually beneficial for all parties involved: refugee communities, surrounding host populations, the international community and the Ugandan state. Refugee management in practice however reveals that these goals are not met as designed. This thesis investigates the Ugandan refugee management approach and, in particular, how Ugandan refugee policies apply in practice, where they fall short and what can be done to address the policy shortcomings for the benefit of refugees and refugee communities within the existing international and state refugee legal framework and funding availability. My comparative analysis of existing settlements and their histories reveals the importance of designing policy that strengthens ethnic and livelihood diversification in refugee settlements, socio - demographic balancing within such settlements, but also ability to access fertile land and proximity to local populations, as these factors play a pivotal role to refugee self-sufficiency.