Examining the efficacy of police in the protection of refugees in Uganda: a case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

Abstract

Despite Uganda’s progressive legal framework for refugee protection, significant implementation gaps persist, particularly in the practical delivery of protection services within refugee settlements. This study examined the efficacy of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) in protecting refugees in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, a site that has witnessed persistent threats such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), discrimination, exploitation, and limited access to justice. Anchored on the principles of Community Policing Theory and Human Security Theory, the study employed a crosssectional research design using a mixed-methods approach to assess police practices, identify challenges, and explore refugee perceptions of police protection. Primary data were collected from 368 refugee respondents using structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were drawn from key informant interviews (KIIs) with police officers, humanitarian actors, and local leaders, as well as from focus group discussions (FGDs) with refugee subgroups. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis to extract deeper insights. The findings indicated moderate agreement among refugees that the police play an important role in their protection; however, there was a significant variability in perceptions, with notable concerns about police misconduct, inadequate response times, limited accessibility, and uneven protection for vulnerable groups such as women and children. The study also found that the key challenges identified include resource constraints, lack of training in refugee-specific issues, cultural and language barriers, and weak collaboration between police and humanitarian actors. Despite these shortcomings, the study also revealed areas of promise, including refugees’ partial trust in police and willingness to engage more with security actors if conditions improve. The study concluded that effective refugee protection requires strengthening police visibility, enhancing training in human rights and refugee law, and fostering community engagement. The study recommended targeted interventions such as increased patrols, establishment of local police outposts, capacity-building programs, and partnerships with refugee leaders and NGOs. Finally, it suggests further research into gender-sensitive policing, inter-agency coordination, and refugee perceptions of safety to inform more responsive and sustainable security policies. These findings provided valuable evidence to guide future policy and operational strategies in refugee protection.