‘Some Refugees Move because the Health Facilities in the Settlement are not Good’: A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Movement of Somali Refugees from Nakivale Settlement to Kampala City

Abstract Background: There is a growing number of urban refugees that may necessitate local government and humanitarian organizations to factor in when planning for the urban infrastructure as this has proved to be a planning blind spot. This study assessed factors influencing Somali refugee movement from Nakivale refugee settlement to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Methods: Six key informant interviews were held with the Principle Protection Officer-OPM, Legal Coordinator-NRC, Manager Access to Justice Program-RLP, Psychosocial Counsellor-JRS, Somali elder Nakivale settlement and the Chairperson-SCK. Three focus group discussions were conducted with one group of male and two groups of female Somali refugees. Transcripts were managed using Atlas ti version 7 (ATLAS. Ti GmbH, Berlin). Results: The need for better basic needs such as food, water, health care, education, employment, a better quality life and difficulties related to having a language barrier emerged in the first theme. Movement due to political and cultural persecution emerged as a combined theme of security. The need for better economic benefits, livelihood support and an enabling refugee policy were influencers. The study also revealed that Somali refugees are a well-knit society with a robust communication network that relies on Islamic religion and country background in exploiting connections that enable those who move from Nakivale settlement to quickly adapt to the situation in Kampala.Conclusion: Somali movement from Nakivale refugee settlement to Kampala is influenced by a need for better basic needs and security; economic benefits, livelihood support and an enabling refugee policy which guarantees freedom of movement. A communication network based on religion and country background are facilitators.