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Accepted Paper:
The Geopolitics of Displacement: Uganda’s Liberal Refugee Policy in a Volatile Region.
Stevens Aguto Odongoh
(Makerere University)
The paper explores Uganda’s refugee liberalism where 'self-reliant’ settlements are created, and refugee integration is part of the country’s policy trajectory. The paper argues that there is need to see Uganda’s refugee policy in geopolitical terms.
Paper long abstract:
Much of Eastern Africa has a long history of violence especially by armed militias, rebel groups especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi Ethiopia and Somalia. While Uganda, has also had its own share of militia and rebel activities especially by the Lord’s Resistance Army (1986-2008), it has of recent seen some semblance of peace. Due the repeated attacks from militia groups, many communities have crossed borders into neighboring countries within the region.
Uganda is among the East African or even African countries with the highest number of exiles, both refugees and undocumented people. In 2006, Uganda adopted an open-door policy that grants refugees not only freedom of movement but also the right to work, establish a business and own property including land. This generosity has made Uganda look like a safe haven for refugees and earned it various international recognition including by the United Nations. The paper explores Uganda’s refugee liberalism where 'self-reliant’ settlements are created, and refugee integration is part of the country’s policy trajectory. The paper argues that there is need to see Uganda’s refugee policy in geopolitical terms. For example, how has Uganda sustained this generosity amidst socio-economic and political challenges locally, regionally but also internationally? Is Uganda playing the politics of generosity through assembling refugee suffering? And lastly, are there pressure points being created as far as hosting refugees is concerned?