National Associations and Women Empowerment: a case of the National Association of Women’s Organizations in Uganda (NAWOU), Hoima district, western Uganda.

Abstract

This study focused on the effectiveness of international organization in ensuring refugee security in Uganda using a specific reference of Palorinya Refugee settlement in Obongi District, Uganda. The study objectives were; to establish the nature of insecurities facing refugees in Palorinya Refugee settlement, Obongi District, Uganda, to establish the nature challenges facing international organization in ensuring refugee security and to analyze the nature of effectiveness of international organizations are doing in addressing the security challenges facing the refugees in Paloriyna refugee settlement, Obongi District.

The study used a descriptive correlation case study design employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A total population 177,623 was randomly sampled for the study and the response rate was 384 respondents. The study used focused group discussion, observation check list, questionnaires, and interview guide instruments of data collection.

The study It is concluded that enough resources or funds are important to provide quality health services in refugee settlements; there should be conduction of impact monitoring in streamlining small and uncoordinated refugee livelihood interventions; providing social services to the refugee communities is the best way to address insecurity issues; there is need coordination with the host government to resolve the issues concerns refugees; work with local organizations to include host communities to benefit from the intervention in helping to build livelihood connections between refugees and host communities; conducting market mapping of the local context to inform programmes design can improve refugee livelihood; refugees can be consulted on their needs; adequate funding and pragmatic engagement with the political economy in which the programmes must operate; it is important to provide quality education facilities to improve education standard in refugee settlement.

The study recommends that ensuring the security of humanitarian personnel must remain a priority for the international community. Therefore, the researcher recommends is the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to strengthen its partnership with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to define their appropriate roles in preventing such attacks against refugees in the future.