“They do not look at us as others”: capital and identity among Sudanese refugees in Kampala

The April 2023 war forced millions of Sudanese to seek refuge in neighboring countries and further afield. Owing to its relaxed vis regime and open-door policy, Uganda is one of the preferred destinations for Sudanese escaping the war. As of May 2023, Uganda declared Sudanese arriving in Uganda as prima facie, which means that they are potential refugees. The possibility of arriving in Uganda by land made it accessible for Sudanese who cannot afford flying. The arrivals represent diverse ethnic groups and belong to different socioeconomic strata, and they joined earlier Sudanese refugees who sought refuge in Uganda due to the war in Darfur in early 2000s. In Uganda, registration takes place in two camps: Nyumanzi settlement in Northern Uganda and Kiryandongo settlement in the western part. Many arrivals came with some sort of capital: money, connections, and academic qualifications. While there is language barrier, the feeling among Sudanese refugees in Uganda is that they are not looked at as others, and they are rediscovering their identities as Africans. Those with capital do not stay at the camp in Kiryandongo but leave to other places like Kampala where they venture into different sorts of business. Based on qualitative methodology, this paper analyses the opportunities and challenges facing Sudanese refugees in Kampala.

The paper was presented as part of a SNAC organized panel on Sudanese displacement: capital, identity and agency organized by Munzoul Assal and Mari Norbakk