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Invisible Yet Resilient: Understanding the Vulnerability and Integration Pathways of South Sudanese Older Refugees in Uganda

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2026.6.1.450

Keywords:

Vulnerability, Older Refugees, Integration, South Sudan, Uganda

Abstract

Forcibly displaced older persons in Africa have not largely been the object of academic research. Recent scholars conducted a scoping review about the situations of displaced older persons in Africa and identified several gaps in the literature, including paying attention to the displaced older persons’ integration in the host societies. Our current study contributes to filling this gap by examining the vulnerability of older refugees and identifying hidden opportunities for resilience and integration in the host communities. The study is based on the primary data collected from South Sudanese refugees in Pagirinya Settlement in Uganda, analyzed in conjunction with the available literature. The study finds that despite the vulnerability of older refugees, windows of opportunities exist to develop their resilience and integrate them in the host communities. It concludes that leveraging skills of older refugees and social gatherings in the settlements helps them to curtail vulnerabilities, develop resilience and integrate in the host communities. The article suggests that further interventions should aim at instituting and financially supporting monitoring teams from within the refugees to monitor and report on the situations of older refugees to the relevant authorities for necessary actions; considering older refugees in special diet programs; and improving information flow so that older refugees can access information and services that could help them improve their lives in the settlement and integrate more easily and faster.

Author Biographies

Frank Ahimbisibwe, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda/ University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Frank Ahimbisibwe is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. He is also a visiting associate professor at the Institute of Development Policy (IOB), University of Antwerp, Belgium; and a visiting associate professor at the African Studies Centre, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan. His research focuses on refugees, forced migration, human security 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. ST has expertise in peace, conflict Studies and Development Work, and her research focuses on development induced displacement, forced migration, and gender relations in extractives.

Kabasiita Goretti, University of Saint Joseph Mbarara, Uganda.

Kabasiita Maria Goretti is an assistant lecturer, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, University of Saint Joseph Mbarara, Uganda. She teaches sustainable development, political science and public administration related courses. Her research focuses on politics, democracy and governance in Uganda.

References

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2026-04-27

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Opono, S., Ahimbisibwe, F., Twinamasiko, S., & Goretti, K. (2026). Invisible Yet Resilient: Understanding the Vulnerability and Integration Pathways of South Sudanese Older Refugees in Uganda. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 6(1), 177–201. https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2026.6.1.450

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Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): JCEEAS - Vol 6. Number 1 2026

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