The effects of HIV/AIDS on the realization of the right to adequate food among refugees: A case study of Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Hoima District

Abstract

The study was set out to investigate the effects of HIV/AIDS on the realization of the right to adequate food among refugees in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Hoima district. The general objective of this study was to assess the effects of HIV/AIDS on the realization of the Right to Adequate Food among refugees in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. Respondents of this study were the police, medical personnel, Religious leaders, Local elders and any Community Based Organizations operating in this area, both men and women married or un married, because the right to adequate food cuts across people of all ages, religions, tribes sexes not only on the house hold level but also in the public sphere. The respondents were selected from the community of Kyangwali refugee settlement. The following objectives were assessed; the understanding of the Right to Adequate Food in relation to the relevant human rights instruments, the situation of food, land and HIV/AIDS in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement and the effects of HIV/AIDS. A total of 70 respondents were involved in the study systematically randomly sampled, whereas 10 key informants (duty bearers) were purposively sampled. Quantitative and Qualitative methods were used in data collection. The study design was exploratory research design in nature. Interviews were carried out using questionnaires; field observations and document analysis were also used in data collection. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS and WHO Anthro. 3.2.2 Software while that from key informants was transcribed and used in discussion of results as appropriate. Results indicate that about 15 (21.4%) of the respondents said that the Right to Adequate Food is a freedom to eat what they want, 33 (47.1%) were of the view that the Right to Adequate Food is having plenty of food, 14 (20.0%) said being able to get and eat body building food/nutritious food while 8(11.4%) was not applicable meaning that they either did not understand the question or they were not interested. Since some respondents emphasized the need to have the freedom to eat what they want meant that they understood the Right to Food as having a variety of Food available for them. When asked about who is entitled to the Right to Adequate Food 42(60.0%) of the respondents said everybody, 20(28.6%) said the sick, 4(5.7%) said that it is the children who are entitled to the right to adequate food, while 4(5.7%) were not sure. This means that the majority of the respondents 42(60.0%) were aware of the fact that everybody is entitled to the Right to Adequate Food. But this does not mean that all is well because a significant percentage believed that the sick are the only ones entitled to the right to adequate food. By the fact that a significant percentage thought that only children are entitled to the right to adequate food also means that sensitization is not sufficient in the settlement for people (refugees) to know that all of them are entitled to adequate food. Implementation and follow-up seems to be lacking. The right to adequate food among refugees in this study area was not realized. Factors leading to this are multi-sectorial ranging from socio economic development to environmental and political factors in society.