Financial Integration in Refugee Economies: Evidence from Uganda

By Kim Wilson

“I have twelve children of my own, but after the war, I ended up with twenty-one children in my care.” This is the story of Nyaring, who fled South Sudan for Kampala in 2015 . Nyaring and her husband’s two other wives looked after their many children.

Though Nyaring’s departure was frantic, her destination was clear — Kampala to Bishop Munde. The Bishop had become a beacon for so many and had grown famous for his generosity. From there, she would get her bearings and make her next steps.

Her story is similar to many other refugees’ whose financial and economic journeys started with help from friends, a place of worship, or friendly police.