The Absence of Durable Solutions, The Presence of Local Solutions in Protracted Refugee Situations. The Case Study of Uganda’s Approach to Hosting Refugees

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2024.4.3-4.293

Keywords:

local solutions, durable solutions, protracted refugee situations, repatriation, local integration and resettlement, Uganda, South Sudan

Abstract

The numbers of refugees have been increasing annually, engendering protracted refugee situations in the developing countries hosting refugees, yet with very minimal implementation of durable solutions. This intrigues the question of whether the approach of local solutions that empower protracted refugees to become resilient and self-reliant, can become a viable option to durable solutions especially in poor African countries such as Uganda? We use secondary literature and primary data collected from South Sudanese refugees in Uganda to answer this question. We argue that in the absence of granting or minimally granting refugees any of the three conventional durable solutions of repatriation, local integration and resettlement; the approach of local solutions can become an important but temporary (although long term) alternative for refugees to live relatively comfortable lives. However, this approach has to be holistically embraced and supported by various stakeholders, including the national government, local governments, international community, donors, and various nongovernmental organizations, to overcome the accompanying challenges and for the approach to succeed in empowering refugees to become resilient and self-reliant for a long time in their first asylum country and live a life outside camps or designated settlements, as they wait for any of the conventional durable solutions.

Author Biographies

Samuel Opono, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Samuel Opono is a Research Assistant at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. His research interests revolve around refugees, forced migration, drivers of conflict and post conflict reconstruction and development in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Frank Ahimbisibwe, Mbarara University of Science and Technology/University of Antwerp

Frank Ahimbisibwe is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. He is a Guest Professor at the Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp, Belgium. Frank is also a Visiting Associate Professor at the African Studies Centre, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan. His research focuses on refugees, forced migration and international relations in the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa.

Specioza Twinamasiko, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Specioza Twinamasiko is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda. She is a coordinator of Service Course in the department of Community Engagement and Service Learning in the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, MUST. Specioza has expertise in peace, conflict Studies and Development Work, and her research focuses on development induced displacement, forced migration, and gender relations in extractives.

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Published

2025-02-03

How to Cite

Opono, S., Ahimbisibwe, F., & Twinamasiko, S. (2025). The Absence of Durable Solutions, The Presence of Local Solutions in Protracted Refugee Situations. The Case Study of Uganda’s Approach to Hosting Refugees. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 4(3-4), 213–238. https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2024.4.3-4.293