Browsing by Author "Achiro Flavia"

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    Remain or return? Dual citizenship and uncertainity: the case of South Sudanese refugees in Lamwo District, Northern Uganda
    (Gulu University, 2026) Achiro Flavia
    Uganda remains Africa’s largest hosting country for many refugees from different African States such as South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, and others with refugees from South Sudan constituting the largest percentage of the total refugee populations. This study and question on Remain or return? Dual citizenship and uncertainty, was carried out in Palabek refugee settlement in Lamwo district, Northern Uganda. The study was guided by three objectives including (a) to examine factors that influence the pursuit for dual citizenship (b) to explore and describe the perceptions of South Sudanese refugees towards dual citizenship and (c) to understand and document how the practice to dual citizenship can be strategized. A qualitative research approach was employed and data collected over a period of three weeks. A case study design was used with attendant methods being interviews and focus group discussions. Case study research design allowed for an understanding of phenomena in real life situations and for the collection of a great deal of information regarding the topic. Furthermore, the key informants identified for this study were purposively selected and included the Refugees, the Woman Leader, Refugee Welfare Committee 3 & 2, Office of the Prime Minister, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Immigration office. The key findings showed that there is inadequate knowledge about dual citizenship amongst the refugees. Another finding was that refugees hardly have access to dual citizenship programs as; some of them have resorted to intermarriage to easily acquire dual citizenship. To remedy this, the research recommends that awareness on dual citizenship should be introduced in the settlement to enable the refugees know their rights. Secondly, the authorities working in the settlement handling refugee affairs especially OPM and UNHCR should work closely with the refugee local leaders and other organizations advocating for the right to citizenship by refugees. With this partnership, it will help to harmonize the gaps surrounding the right to dual citizenship.