Ending misinformation in Nakivale refugee settlement with technology in 5 languages
The Problem: How Misinformation Affects 200,000 Refugees Daily
Picture this. It’s early morning in Nakivale refugee settlement. A message spreads from phone to phone. “Food distribution today at 10 AM in Juru.” By the time it reaches the fifth person, it has changed. Now it says “Food distribution at 2 PM in Rubondo.” Some people walk three kilometers to Rubondo. Others arrive at Juru at 10 AM but find nothing. The real distribution was scheduled for noon in Basecamp.
This happens every single day.
Not just with food. With medical appointments. With job trainings. With school enrollment deadlines. With emergency announcements. Information moves fast in refugee communities. But truth moves slowly. And in that gap between speed and accuracy, people suffer real consequences.
They miss opportunities they desperately need. They waste precious energy walking to places based on wrong information. They feel stress and anxiety from conflicting messages. Families go without services because they showed up on the wrong day or at the wrong location.
This is not a small problem. This is daily life for over 200,000 people living in Nakivale refugee settlement in Uganda. And it has been this way since 1958, when this settlement was first established. Millions of refugees have passed through Nakivale over the decades. Every single one of them has faced this same challenge.
Until now.
ConnectRefugee: A Mobile App Solution Built From Within.
Something remarkable is happening in Nakivale right now. A team of refugees is building the first mobile app ever created by refugees, for refugees in this settlement’s entire history. It is called ConnectRefugee.
But here is what makes this refugee communication platform truly special. This is not just another app. This is not just another technology project. This is a fundamental shift in how verified information reaches people in refugee communities.
For the first time, refugees do not have to rely on word of mouth. They do not have to trust forwarded messages that change meaning with every share. They do not have to walk long distances just to confirm if something they heard is actually true.
ConnectRefugee creates one trusted digital space where NGOs and community organizations share announcements directly with refugees. When a health clinic is scheduled, they post it in the app. When a training program opens registration, they announce it through the platform. When there is food distribution, the exact time and location go straight to people’s phones.
No middlemen. No telephone game. No confusion. Just truth.
Why ConnectRefugee Works Where Other Solutions Fail
Multilingual by Design
ConnectRefugee supports five languages spoken across Nakivale refugee settlement: English, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and Arabic. Information reaches everyone in their preferred language, ensuring no one is left behind due to language barriers. Users can switch languages instantly within the app, making it accessible to the diverse refugee population from DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, and beyond.
Offline Functionality for Low-Connectivity Environments
The app works even without internet connection. Critical announcements are stored locally on users’ phones, so they can access life-saving information even when data is unavailable. This offline-first design recognizes the reality of refugee settlements where internet access is unreliable and data is expensive.
Built for Low-Resource Settings
ConnectRefugee is designed specifically for the conditions refugees face daily:
- Works on older Android smartphones (Android 5.0+)
- Minimal data usage (less than 50MB per month for average users)
- Simple, intuitive interface requiring no technical training
- Optimized for unstable network connections
- Low battery consumption
Refugee-Led Development
Munguzo Kapera as an innovator and his team behind ConnectRefugee did not design this app in an office somewhere far away. They built it inside Nakivale itself. They are refugees who have lived this reality. They know what it feels like to hear five different versions of the same announcement. They understand the frustration of missing an important opportunity because the information came too late or came wrong.
This lived experience shapes every feature of the refugee mobile app. Because the builders understand something that outsiders often miss: technology for refugee communities cannot be built the same way technology is built for people with reliable electricity, fast internet, and the latest smartphones. It has to meet people where they are.
ConnectRefugee does exactly that.
How the App Connects NGOs and Refugee Communities
The concept is beautifully simple. Organizations working in Nakivale can post verified announcements directly into the ConnectRefugee platform. When they do, users receive a push notification. People can then open the app and read the full details, even offline. Dates. Times. Locations. Instructions. Everything they need to know, written clearly in their language of choice.
No more asking five different people if the rumor is true. No more walking three kilometers to check if something is happening. No more missing out because the information chain broke somewhere along the way.
For NGOs and humanitarian service providers, this refugee communication tool transforms how they reach communities. Instead of putting up posters that might blow away in the wind or making announcements that get distorted as they spread, they share information directly with the people they serve. Programs reach the right people at the right time. Coordination improves. Confusion decreases. Impact increases.
Features for NGOs and Community Organizations:
- Direct communication channel to 200,000+ refugees
- Verification system to prevent misinformation
- Analytics to track announcement reach and engagement
- Scheduling system for recurring programs
- Multi-language posting (one announcement, five languages)
- Category-based organization (health, education, food security, livelihood, emergency, opportunities)
Current Progress: Testing Phase with 100+ Active Users
Right now, ConnectRefugee is being tested by over 100 community members in Nakivale refugee settlement. Real people are using it in their daily lives. They are providing feedback. They are helping the team understand what works and what needs improvement. They are shaping the final product with their lived experience.
This testing phase is crucial. The team is not rushing to launch. They are taking time to get it right. Because this app needs to work in real conditions, not just in theory. It needs to serve people who have limited data, who might not be tech-savvy, who are juggling multiple responsibilities and challenges every single day.
Early results are promising:
- 94% of testers report receiving more accurate information
- Average 2.3 hours saved per week from reduced verification trips
- 87% prefer ConnectRefugee over word-of-mouth announcements
- Zero reports of technical issues on older Android devices
A Program of CAMPUS Digital Hub
ConnectRefugee operates under CAMPUS Digital Hub, an initiative working to create digital solutions for real challenges in Nakivale refugee settlement. The team has seen how misinformation creates stress, conflict, and missed opportunities in refugee communities. They have watched people suffer because truth moves too slowly through traditional channels.
That direct observation led to direct action. Not complaints. Not waiting for someone else to solve the problem. But building a solution themselves, from within the community, with deep understanding of what people actually need.
This is refugee-led innovation at its finest.
Why This Matters Beyond Nakivale
ConnectRefugee is not just a mobile application for one refugee settlement. It represents a completely new model for how information flows in displaced communities worldwide.
For decades, information in refugee settlements has moved through informal networks. Someone hears something from someone who heard it from someone else. A community leader makes an announcement to a small group, hoping it spreads. An NGO worker tells a few people, trusting they will pass it on. These methods have always been unreliable. But they were the only option available.
ConnectRefugee offers a different path for humanitarian technology. It creates formal, direct channels between information sources and information seekers. It removes the layers where truth gets lost. It builds trust through consistency and accuracy.
This matters far beyond Uganda. There are refugee settlements across Africa, across the world, facing this exact same challenge. If this model works in Nakivale, it can work in Kakuma, in Dadaab, in Azraq, in Cox’s Bazar. The approach can scale. The impact can multiply.
That is why this is not just an app launch. It is the beginning of a movement to end information poverty in refugee communities.
What This Proves About Refugee Innovation
When ConnectRefugee launches fully, it will mark a historic moment for Nakivale. For the first time since 1958, refugees will have a technology tool built specifically for them, by people who understand their reality completely.
But the significance reaches further. This proves that refugees are not just recipients of aid or passive beneficiaries of programs designed elsewhere. They are innovators. They are problem solvers. They are builders.
When given the opportunity and resources, refugees create solutions that outsiders would never think of. Because they see the problems from the inside. They feel the pain points personally. They understand the context intimately.
ConnectRefugee shows what becomes possible when we trust refugee communities to lead their own digital transformation.
Partner With Us: Join the Movement
We are preparing for full launch and seeking partners who share our vision of ending information poverty in refugee communities.
For NGOs and Humanitarian Organizations
If your organization works in Nakivale or other refugee settlements, ConnectRefugee can transform how you reach the communities you serve. Partner with us to:
- Pilot the verified information platform with your programs
- Provide feedback on features that serve your coordination needs
- Connect us with other settlements facing similar challenges
- Amplify our impact through your networks
Interested in partnership? Contact us to discuss how ConnectRefugee can support your humanitarian work.
For Technology Companies and Developers
We welcome technical partnerships to help us scale this solution:
- Cloud infrastructure support for growing user base
- Translation API integrations for additional languages
- Data analytics tools for impact measurement
- Cybersecurity partnerships to protect user data
For Funders and Impact Investors
ConnectRefugee needs financial support to launch fully and scale to other refugee settlements. Your investment will:
- Enable full app launch for 200,000+ refugees in Nakivale
- Support ongoing development and maintenance
- Fund expansion to other refugee settlements in Uganda and East Africa
- Create jobs for refugee developers and community managers
- Demonstrate the viability of refugee-led social enterprises
Every dollar invested creates measurable impact: more people receiving accurate information, fewer opportunities missed, stronger community coordination.
For Media and Storytellers
Help us share this story of refugee innovation with the world:
- Feature ConnectRefugee in your humanitarian technology coverage
- Interview our refugee developer team
- Document the testing phase and launch journey
- Connect us with platforms amplifying refugee voices
Our Vision: Information as a Human Right
The vision is simple but powerful. Information should not be a luxury. Truth should not move slower than rumor. People should not have to walk kilometers to confirm basic facts about their daily lives.
Everyone deserves access to clear, accurate, timely information. Everyone deserves to make decisions based on truth rather than guesswork. Everyone deserves a reliable source they can trust.
That is what ConnectRefugee is building. Not just for Nakivale. But as a model that could transform how information flows in refugee communities everywhere. A future where technology serves the most vulnerable, built by the people who understand their needs best.
Join Us in Making History
This is happening right now. In Nakivale refugee settlement, a team of refugees is changing how information works in their community. They are building the first multilingual, offline-first app of its kind. They are creating a new standard for truth and clarity in humanitarian technology.
This is not a story about technology solving all problems. It is a story about people identifying a real need and taking action. It is about innovation coming from unexpected places. It is about refugees leading solutions instead of waiting for them.
The app will launch soon. But the impact has already begun. Because ConnectRefugee is proving something important. Refugees are not just surviving. They are building. They are innovating. They are creating the future they want to see.
And we invite you to be part of this journey.
Get Involved
For Partnership Inquiries: [partnerships@campusdigitalhub.org]
For Technical Collaboration: campusdigitalhub@gmail.com
For Media Requests: campusdigitalhub@gmail.com
Follow Our Journey: LinkedIn, Instagram, ConnectRefugee
ConnectRefugee is a program of CAMPUS Digital Hub, built by refugees in Nakivale refugee settlement, Uganda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ConnectRefugee work without internet?
Yes! The app includes offline functionality so users can access saved announcements even without a data connection. Critical information is stored locally on the device.
What languages does ConnectRefugee support?
ConnectRefugee is available in five languages: English, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and Arabic. Users can switch between languages instantly within the app.
Who can post information on ConnectRefugee?
Only verified NGOs and community organizations can share announcements through the platform. This verification system ensures all information is accurate and trustworthy.
What type of phone do I need to use ConnectRefugee?
ConnectRefugee works on iOS, and Android smartphone running Android 5.0 or higher. It’s designed specifically for older, low-cost devices common in refugee settlements.
Is ConnectRefugee free to use?
Yes, ConnectRefugee is completely free for refugees and community members. There are no subscription fees or hidden costs.
Can this work in other refugee settlements?
Absolutely. While currently focused on Nakivale, ConnectRefugee is designed to scale to any refugee settlement worldwide. We’re actively seeking partnerships to expand.
How can my organization start using ConnectRefugee?
Contact us at partnerships@campusdigitalhub.org to discuss becoming a verified information provider on the platform.
Published by CAMPUS Digital Hub, documenting refugee-led innovation and technology solutions in displaced communities.