Kinship structures and networks supporting older refugees in protracted displacement in Uganda

Keywords: Forced displacement, networks of support, kinship structures, older refugees, sub-Saharan Africa
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 08:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 09:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 25

Abstract

Uganda is the fourth largest country hosting refugees worldwide with the largest refugee
population in sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2019). The protracted nature of displacement
underscores the need for sustainable solutions that include the displaced and their hosts.

Fifty repeat in-depth interviews conducted with Congolese older refugees capture their
experiences of displacement fleeing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the
Kyangwali refugee settlement, Uganda. This paper generates a narrative on the fluidity of
older refugees’ household compositions and kinship practices – as supporting structures - as
their vulnerability increases. Three life events guide discussion: (a) Lendu-Hema ethnic conflict
in the DRC, (b) forced displacement and, (c) the global COVID-19 pandemic. Positive and negative
outcomes in this narrative are discussed.

This paper concludes that an understanding of kinship structures in old age in a protracted
displacement context includes different layers of relations and practices with people and
humanitarian institutions within older refugees’ networks of support. This contributes to
recent international debates on transitioning from emergency response to long-term and
sustainable solutions.

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World Bank (2019). Refugee population by country or territory of asylum- sub- Saharan Africa. Available at: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum - Sub-Saharan Africa | Data (worldbank.org)