An Assessment of Uganda’s Progressive Approach to Refugee Management

Abstract
For several decades, Uganda has been generously hosting refugees and asylum seekers from the conflict-affected countries in its neighborhood, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi. Since achieving its independence in 1962, the country has been hosting an average of approximately 161,000 refugees per year. As of December 2015, there were over 477,187 refugees and 35,779 asylum-seekers in Uganda in nine host districts located mainly in the northern, southern, and southwestern regions of the country. The refugees come from 13 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Eritrea. Congolese account for 41.7 percent of total refugees in Uganda, followed by the South Sudanese at 39.4 percent.Uganda’s refugee laws are among the most progressive in the world. Refugees and asy lum seekers are entitled to work; have freedom of movement; and can access Ugandan social services, such as health and education. But refugee-impacted areas are at risk due to underlying poverty, vulnerability, and limited resilience to shock further exacerbated by the presence of refugees. The government of Uganda, in collabo ration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partners, has taken steps to strengthen the self-reliance and resilience of refugees and their host communities.
Description
Keywords
domestic legislation regarding refugees;labor force participation rate;female labor market participation;Board of Executive Directors;freedom of movement;country of origin;number of refugees;access to land;duration of stay;intellectual property rights;world war ii;Rule of Law;economic impact assessment;social service provider;asylum to refugees;means of production;influx of refugees;human rights instrument;integration of refugees;land tenure system;human rights issue;availability of drug;Social Impact Analysis;provision of water;provision water;access to skill;provision of health;conflict and violence;choice of employment;social services delivery;point of entry;asylum from persecution;ownership of land;protection of refugee;repatriation of refugee;freedom of association;national development planning;Host Communities;refugee law;asylum seeker;rural settlement;movable properties;refugee settlement;socioeconomic impact;legal framework;colonial era;refugee policy;peaceful coexistence;non-governmental organization;asylum country;moveable property;refugee protection;local economy;formal sector;work permit;mobile money;habitual residence;economic integration;marginal effect;productive capital;municipal law;market opportunity;poor infrastructure;refugee situation;host population;informal employment;research method;female refugees;public order;empirical analysis;school fee;legal definition;global refugee;repatriation movements;Armed Conflict;home countries;home country;input supply;regional refugee;existing law;common law;social outcome;fundamental right;fetching water;local resident;social group;gender issue;political opinion;quantitative method;interview skills;Independent States;output market;Social Protection;money transfer;refugee sites;aid agency;job security;employment status;focus group;savings group;resource persons;cultivable land;agricultural produce;implementing partner;urban research;colonial administration;water treatment;credit group;commercial center;cultural right;qualitative method;livelihood opportunity;economic interdependence;school staff;health facility;primary focus;preventable disease;respiratory tract;solar lamps;land lease;private hospitals;supply chain;grid connection;agricultural activity;social access;coordinate system;Community Services;refugee population;grazing animal;agricultural productivity;school infrastructure;teaching staff;physical protection;legal system;social structure;literature review;trade union;regional treaty;field visits;Elementary Education;cultural benefits;donor agencies;study including;water source;voluntary repatriation;refugee family;socioeconomic transformation;sustainable livelihood;refugee community;land management;law make;social capital;social infrastructure;open door;pregnant woman;legal protection;personal belonging;humane ways;social cohesion;electronic media;transfer business;legislative process;adopted children;telecom company;legal effect;domestic law;policy regime;local citizen;study material;refugee assistance;legal regime;international convention;district leadership;national legislation;local settlement;international agreement;personal property;commercial term;legal instrument;identity documents;agricultural plot;enabling environment;professional expertise;national policy; See Less
Citation
Vemuru, V., Araya, Y. Y., Tadesse, E., Kalumiya, C. K., Nkunda, D., Buyinza, F., ... & Klose, K. (2016). An assessment of Uganda’s progressive approach to refugee management. The World Bank.
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