'The food is not enough': disability and food aid technologies in a Ugandan refugee settlement

In Uganda's refugee policy framework, food aid targets the most vulnerable - among them people with disabilities - using a categorization system. This article explores the entanglements of this technology of food distribution with disabled people's socialities. It reveals that the system does not achieve its proposed rationale of creating equal opportunities for people who are disadvantaged within Uganda's refugee policy of self-reliance, and that it falls short in enabling disabled people to fulfil roles and responsibilities. Nevertheless, food aid is a significant contribution that allows refugees with disabilities to cultivate family and non-kin relationships. Exploring these interdependent relations around food aid calls into question the ideas of equality and independence as fundamental principles of living together. Resume Dans le cadre de politique regissant les refugies en Ouganda, l'aide alimentaire vise les plus vulnerables (au rang desquels les personnes en situation de handicap) en utilisant un systeme de categorisation. Cet article explore les imbrications entre cette technologie de distribution alimentaire et les socialites des personnes handicapees. Il revele que le systeme n'atteint pas le but propose de creer une egalite des chances pour les personnes defavorisees au sein de la politique ougandaise d'autonomie des refugies, et qu'il ne parvient pas a mettre les personnes handicapees en capacite de remplir des fonctions et des responsabilites. Neanmoins, l'aide alimentaire est une contribution importante qui permet aux refugies en situation de handicap de cultiver des relations de famille et de non-parente. L'exploration de ces relations interdependantes autour de l'aide alimentaire remet en question les idees d'egalite et d'independance comme principes fondamentaux du vivre ensemble.

Automated summary

In Uganda's refugee policy framework, food aid targets the most vulnerable, including people with disabilities, but the current system fails to create equal opportunities and enable disabled individuals to fulfill roles and responsibilities.