Information Behaviour of Refugees in North Western Uganda: Examining Approaches to Information Seeking and Use Behaviour Patterns Among South Sudanese Refugees

Information behaviour study is an attempt to understand how different categories of users respond to, and utilise information products. This study focussed on exploring the behaviour patterns in North Western Uganda with attention to their information seeking behaviour patterns and their information use behaviour. The study was carried out in Northern Uganda, in the West Nile Province at Bidi Bidi refugee settlement camp. Adult refugee participants were investigated using qualitative techniques that allowed depth in data collection. Data was collected using interviews both individual and group as well as non-participant observation. Using ATLAS.ti 24, qualitative data was analysed thematically to answer the study questions. Findings of the study showed that refugees’ information behaviour depicted different information seeking behaviour patterns and approaches whether passive or active. Refugees exhibited varying information behaviour patterns in their information environments depending on the nature of information they sought and their character. Refugees used the information they found to respondent to their essential needs individually and as groups. Information validation and information sharing were key highlights that described refugees’ information use behaviour in North Western Uganda. Having knowledge on the different information seeking patterns adopted by refugees is beneficial to refugee service providers to develop different strategies to information dissemination that are supportive to all refugees categories.