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Map of Uganda and the Nakivale Refugee Settlement Site.
Source publication
Uganda has long promoted refugee self-reliance as a sustainable livelihood strategy with progressive land-allocation and free-movement-for-work policies. Framed as a dialogue with related Oxford University Refugee Studies Centre (“the Centre”) research on refugee economies, this article explores sustainable solutions that benefit refugees as well a...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... settlement is located in Bukanga County, about 50 km south of Mbarara. It spreads across Rugaaga and Ngarama subcounties in the Isingiro District of southwestern Uganda (Figure 1). Established in 1958 to offer protection to Tutsi refugees who fled the Hutu-initiated "social revolution" in Rwanda, the settlement received official recognition in 1960 and has operated ever since. ...
Context 2
... settlement is located in Bukanga County, about 50 km south of Mbarara. It spreads across Rugaaga and Ngarama subcounties in the Isingiro District of southwestern Uganda (Figure 1). Established in 1958 to offer protection to Tutsi refugees who fled the Hutu-initiated "social revolution" in Rwanda, the settlement received official recognition in 1960 and has operated ever since. ...
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Citations
... Organizations like restaurants, retail shops, dry cleaners, and so on will be able to locate their new locations based on the city's foot traffic [8]. Smart cities aim to enhance the quality of life for their residents by focusing on such fundamentals as policy efficiency, waste reduction, daily challenges, social and economic quality, and social inclusion [9]. More than merely being more efficient to operate, data-driven cities are more liveable, and living in one is a more pleasurable experience [10]. ...
In smart cities, the widespread adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) presents both opportunities and challenges for security. While ICTs enable increased productivity, data sharing, and improved citizen services, they also create new vulnerabilities for malicious actors to exploit. This necessitates robust host-based security solutions to protect critical infrastructure and data. This paper proposes a novel multi-level fusion approach for enhanced host-based malware detection in ICT-enabled smart cities. By leveraging diverse data sources and employing advanced fusion techniques, our approach achieves significant improvements in malware detection accuracy, network evaluation, and security analysis compared to existing methods. Specifically, our proposed approach demonstrates a 72.1% malware detection rate across various attack scenarios, 69.7% accuracy in host network evaluation, 82.8% reduction in security analysis error, 75.4% accuracy in network probability detection, and an overall accuracy of 67.2%. These results showcase the potential of multi-level fusion for strengthening host-based security in smart cities. This approach offers several advantages over traditional host-based security solutions. Firstly, it provides more comprehensive threat detection by utilizing multiple data sources. Secondly, it reduces the burden on IT administrators by automating security analysis and decision-making. Finally, it enables continuous improvement through adaptive learning and feedback mechanisms. Overall, our multi-level fusion approach represents a promising advancement in host-based security for ICT-enabled smart cities. It offers significant improvements in accuracy and efficiency, paving the way for a more secure and resilient urban environment.
... Results also suggest that discrimination is related to psychological distress, particularly for men. Programming might address this through peacebuilding intervention between refugee and host populations to counteract some of the tensions that have emerged in recent years in Uganda (Bjørkhaug, 2020). ...
Background: Research indicates refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly females, have a higher incidence of mental health problems compared to the global norm for conflict-affected populations.
Objective: This study aimed to unpack gender differences in the mental health of Congolese refugees by examining specific risk (trauma exposure, adaptation challenges, and discrimination) and protective factors (marital status, literacy, and social resources) in relation to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depression. Method: Utilizing systematic random sampling, we surveyed 667 adult refugees (370 females, 297 males) in the Kyaka II refugee settlement in Western Uganda. A multi-group path analysis was conducted, initially allowing for variance between genders and subsequently comparing a constrained model, where paths were set equal across groups.
Results: The unconstrained model presented an excellent fit to the data. When paths were set to be equal across groups, the decline in model fit, confirmed by a chi-square difference test, indicated differences in the model for males and females. A series of Z-tests were used to compare individual paths. Experiencing discrimination was a stronger risk factor for depression among men, whereas a history of rape was more strongly associated with depression for females. Being literate and a member of a social group in the settlement were stronger protective factors for depression among men, whereas living with a partner and a felt sense of connection to their community was more important for women. Associations between risk and protective factors and PTSS were more similar across groups, only membership in a group was significantly moderated by gender; with group membership being more impactful for males.
Conclusion: The results highlight similarities and differences in predictors of distress for male and female Congolese refugees and point to potential avenues for tailoring programming to be gender sensitive.
... The two settlements are located in present-day Isingiro District. Women and girls comprise almost half (49.6%) of Nakivale's total population, with 52.5% being girls below 18 years [31][32][33]. The refugees at Nakivale and Oruchinga come from 13 nationalities, with the majority being from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) [32]. ...
Background
Vaginal fistula (VF) affects 2–3 million women globally, with the majority in Africa. In Uganda, it’s 2%, with western Uganda having the highest prevalence. Major predisposing factors for refugee women include health system breakdowns and sexual violence during conflict. VF has severe consequences for women, relatives, and communities. There’s limited information on lived experiences among refugee women with VF, and there’s a need for quality prevention, treatment, and social reintegration strategies. This study aimed to understand the physical, psychosocial, and economic impacts of VF on refugee women in Nakivale and Oruchinga settlements and their coping mechanisms.
Methods
Ten refugee women with VF were interviewed using qualitative study design, utilizing Social-Ecological and Transactional Models for data collection, analysis, and discussion.
Results
Ten refugee women aged 24–50 years with or who had experienced VF participated in the study. They lived with VF for at least 2–15 years and had multiple stillbirths. Obstetric Fistula (OF) was the leading cause, followed by rape and cancer. Post-fistula, they faced social discrimination, emotional disturbances, survival difficulties, poverty, and lack of support. They struggled with stigma, social isolation, and marital sexual challenges.
Conclusion
Refugee women experience physical, emotional, financial, social, and sexual trauma due to VF. Discrimination and stigmatization from loved ones and society lead to isolation, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Despite successful repair, their social and emotional healing remains a burden for their lives. There is a need to provide a supportive environment for VF survivors.
... Indeed, I suggest refugees' responses reveal three interconnected elements: firstly, the everyday agency of refugees, despite difficult conditions (cf. Bjørkhaug 2020, Stites et al. 2021; secondly, that many responses are, directly or indirectly, acts of resistance (cf. Ryan 2015); and thirdly, that 'so-called apolitical acts of resilience can represent political acts of resistance' (Sou 2021b, p. 3;cf. ...
Resilience is a dominant humanitarian-development theme. Nonetheless, some humanitarian-development programmes have demonstrably negative impacts which encourage vulnerable people to actively resist these programmes. Based on 12 months ethnographic fieldwork in a Ugandan refugee settlement during 2017–18, this paper argues refugee residents articulated their refusal of humanitarian failure and corruption through active, largely non-political, resistance. I term the diverse strategies used ‘resistant resilience’, arguing that the agency central to these practices require that assumptions about resilience are reconsidered. I conclude that this refugee community’s most important resilience strategies were active resistance, demonstrating that resilience can be manifested through marginalised peoples’ desire to resist exploitation.
... In Nakivale, Uganda, the refugees evict the locals and collect firewood and crop residues from their land to use as sources of household energy (Ronald 2020;Bjørkhaug 2020), but the Ugandan government's self-reliance policy in 1999 encouraged refugees to become self-sufficient throughout their stay in the country as a livelihood strategy with progressive "land-allocation and free-movement for work policies." However, the land distribution in Nakivele is not sustainable, there are issues of corruption that affect both the host and refugee communities (Bjørkhaug 2020, 266). ...
ABSTRACT
Despite being a resource-scarce country, Bangladesh hosts a million Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds and offers them protection, and shelter. How does their presence affect the provision of resources, services, and access for both residents and refugees? I analyze the conflict and competition over limited resources. I argue that the arrival of the Rohingyas has caused significant distress to the host community in Cox’s Bazar district, but there is an inadequate reflection on their distress. By examining the locals’ relationships with the refugees through field engagements, I argue their presence leads to conflict, in three main areas: public service provision, economic resources, and environmental resources.
... In the same vein, the host country should not discriminate between refugees settled on its territory. It should also respect religious feelings and refrain from punishing refugees for illegal entry into its territories (Abed Alshaheed, 2009;Da Costa, 2006;Bjørkhaug, 2020;Refugee Convention, 1951). ...
Jordan is not a signatory of the 1951 humanitarian refugees' treaty or its 1967 optional protocol. However, Jordan in 1998 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNHCR. Therefore, Jordan is legally obligate to receive refugees. As a result of the 2011 Syrian civil war, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled to Jordan. Syrian refugees have become a dilemma for Jordan, giving UNHCR, donor states, and the international community's failure to fulfill their obligations towards Jordan fully. This article reviews Refugees' protection under the global legal system. It informs Jordanian and UNHCR's legal and institutional framework while handling Syrian refugees' issues. It also evaluates Jordan's response to Syrian refugees and the challenges that have faced Jordan since 2011. Finally, the study examines whether or not UNHCR, donor countries, and the international community are committed to Jordan's obligations.
... Despite the difficulties experienced by refugee communities and host communities caused by pressures on land, water, jobs and services (Bagenda et al., 2003;Bjørkhaug, 2020), wider research and evidence from Uganda suggests that the standard of living of both refugee communities and the national population is elevated by the increased provision of services within the refugee settlements and government investment in the surrounding areas (Kreibaum, 2016). However local people often have a negative perception of refugees, suggesting that more needs to be done to improve social integration to mitigate any violence, hostility and mistrust (Fajth et al., 2019). ...
Rationale
Research into mental health and wellbeing recognises the role of positive mental health to enable people to lead healthy and emotionally fulfilling lives. Mental health difficulties continue to be associated with high levels of disability worldwide, and refugees fleeing conflict are known to suffer from poor mental health for years after their forced migration.
Method
Informed by Sen's Capability Approach and as part of a wider research project, we used semi-structured interviews to engage with 60 men and women in two refugee communities in Uganda and Rwanda to explore their aspirations and what a ‘good life’ meant to them.
Findings
While aspects of what constituted a good life were gendered, both men and women struggled to achieve their aspirations within their communities. Following the basic needs of food and shelter, the complex needs of being dressed well and being clean were consistently associated with be able to achieve a ‘good life’ by women and men across age groups. Looking good and being clean were highly valued and associated with gaining the respect of others, achieving good relationships with neighbours, and avoiding conflict. Participants identified personal appearance and related social status as critical precursors to their successful engagement with other gendered dimensions of social and economic life in their communities, such as finding employment and being well regarded in their religious community.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that without the means to present a good appearance, people living in refugee communities may experience feelings of shame and isolation and are unable to gain self-respect and the respect of others needed to achieve the positive mental and physical health they associate with leading ‘a good life’.
... Our study is limited by the absence of two notable perspectives from the working group: Ugandan nationals living in Nakivale, and Somali refugees. In Nakivale, as in other humanitarian settings, there is a complex landscape of power and vulnerability (Bjørkhaug, 2020). The Ugandan participants in the IM workshop worked for humanitarian and government organizations; they were in positions of relative power in the settlement. ...
... Conversely, the Ugandans who live in Nakivale are vulnerable to eviction from their land, yet also benefit from the health and education services provided for refugees, thus facing complex challenges and motivations. Additionally, Somali refugees tend to be more economically prosperous than other groups and conflicts can arise between those communities (Bjørkhaug, 2020). Prior to implementation of the proposed intervention, feedback from these groups should be obtained. ...
Nearly 80 million people have been forcibly displaced by persecution, violence, and disaster. Displaced populations, including refugees, face health challenges such as resource shortages, food and housing insecurity, violence, and disrupted social support. People living with HIV in refugee settings have decreased engagement with HIV services compared to non-refugee populations, and interventions are needed to enhance linkage to care. However, designing health interventions in humanitarian settings is challenging. We used Intervention Mapping (IM), a six-step method for developing theory- and evidence-based health interventions, to design a program to increase linkage to HIV care for refugees and Ugandan nationals in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. We engaged a diverse group of stakeholders (N = 14) in Nakivale, including community members and humanitarian actors, in an interactive workshop focusing on IM steps 1–4. We developed a chronic care program that would integrate HIV care with services for hypertension and diabetes at accessible community sites, thereby decreasing stigma around HIV treatment and improving access to care. IM provided an inclusive, efficient method for integrating community members and program implementers in the intervention planning process, and can be used as a method-driven approach to intervention design in humanitarian settings.
Generosity and selflessness from the host community in Cox’s Bazar were deemed to be instrumental in supporting Rohingyas who sought refuge in Bangladesh in 2017. Thousands of Rohingyas had to flee from their own country to save lives due to state-supported military violence. Initially, Bangladeshi media and civil society were largely supportive of the Rohingyas. However, the initial sympathy later withered away and may have turned into frustration and hostility. Based on 39 in-depth interviews with hot community members and humanitarian professionals, this paper argues that protraction of the crisis, inability to access natural resources due to the refugee camps, some Rohingyas’ involvement in various unlawful activities, a perceived sense of neglect from the international community, and disruption in local labour market/trade affecting cost of living conditions for low-income people seem to have played important roles in creating widespread tensions between the host community and Rohingya refugees. We contend that findings of this study will add to the critical scholarship of humanitarian development in deepening the understanding of host and refugee communities’ relationships. This paper will also have a positive impact on future policies toward harmonious coexistence between host communities and displaced refugees and potential sustainable solutions to the crisis.
