Experiences of refugees in the informal sector in Uganda: a case of Congolese women in Kyaaka II Settlement

Abstract

The study explored factors affecting the Congolese refugee women involvement in informal sector in Uganda. Analysis of coping mechanisms among Congolese refugee women in the informal sector has been made. Using mixed method, a total of 101 Congolese women participated in the survey. The study revealed that 75 (74%) of the refugee households were female headed contrary to national statistics of 31.2% female household heads. The refugee informal sector interventions were majorly agriculture based with 55.5% engaged in farming or agriculture related economic activities. The study showed that only 25.7% the Congolese women used Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to cope in the informal sector. The study recommends that the settlement leadership creates mechanisms that will support and guarantee refugees seeking work opportunities among the host communities with wage payment for offered labour so as to minimize exploitation by the host community. This study recommends building and strengthening the social and economic capital base for the Congolese women by growing the Village Savings and Loan Associations. Growing the Village Savings, and Loans Associations will not only provide an affordable capital base but will also enable the women to share experiences necessary to thrive and master the informal sector within the refugee set up.