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Uganda + 4 more

The Mental Health of Refugees in Prison, a case-study from Western Uganda

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Executive summary

This study looked at the mental wellbeing of refugees in prisons located in Western Uganda. It arose out of RLP’s routine visits to detention facilities in the region under the objective on providing comprehensive legal aid to forced migrants in Uganda. RLP believed that in order to provide adequate and prompt services to refugee inmates, an understanding of their mental wellbeing was pertinent. The study specifically aimed at;

  • Understanding conditions in detention facilities and the extent to which they impact psychological well-being of refugee inmates

  • Examining the influence of past traumatic exposure on the psychological wellbeing of refugees in prisons

  • Examining the influence created by disconnection in social support on the mental health of refugee inmates

  • Exploring coping mechanisms of refugee inmates with regard to psychological problems

The study was conducted in prisons in the western districts of Uganda namely of Masindi, Hoima, Kyegegwa, Fort Portal, Mbarara and Isingiro. Structured questionnaires were administered by RLP officers to 109 refugee prisoners; 3 female and 106 male.

The study revealed that the conditions in which refugees live in prison impact on their mental health. 57.5% reported being very stressed by inadequacy in sleeping space, while while 54.4% felt stressed by a lack of information about their legal cases.

Traumatic experiences before or during their flight (such as exposure to torture, witnessing violence, and other abuses associated with armed conflict situations) continue to haunt respondents and this manifests in depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These are exacerbated by poor living conditions within prisons. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that most prisoners are disconnected from the support of their family and friends; either because they have lost or become separated from them or they can hardly afford transport from far settlements to visit them.

Refugee prisoners try to cope with these challenges through prayers, as well as engagement in art and craft work.