Refugee women have been urged to apply for funds from the Generating Growth Opportunities and Wealth for Women (GROW) project, an initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs.
Ms Fridah Mboni, a refugee specialist for the GROW project at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, said while refugees qualify to benefit from the project, many of them have not fulfilled requirements such as need for collateral.
‘Previously, uptake was low because refugee women could not meet collateral conditions. But through consultations with the private sector and project teams, new strategies are being developed so that refugee women can now access loans at a minimum value. Physical support during the application process has also been key, particularly for rural and refugee participants,’ she said.
Ms Mboni was speaking during a Saturday training for refugee women and other Ugandan women from Bunyoro Sub-region conducted by the ministry in conjunction with Enterprise Uganda in Hoima City.
She highlighted the importance of continuous mentorship and hand-holding for both refugee and rural women entrepreneurs.
‘It’s not just about providing loans or online applications. We provide on-the-ground support, verification through local government and settlement officers, and guidance throughout the process. This ensures the women can fully benefit from the GROW project,’ Ms Mboni explained.
The training brought together 450 women from Kiryandongo and Kyangwali refugee settlements. The sessions focused on soft skills, financial literacy, business management, and strategies for mindset transformation to improve enterprise performance and prepare women to meet the demands of emerging markets.
Mr Solomon Osaka, the Refugee Desk Officer at the Office of the Prime Minister in Hoima, said the impact of the training is already visible.
‘Many women have applied for access to common user facilities, like grinding machines, to add value to their products. With electricity now available in the settlements, value addition is feasible and market-ready products can reach consumers outside the camps,’ he said.
Mr Osaka stressed that equipping refugee women with these skills helps them compete effectively and create sustainable livelihoods.
Mr Charles Ocici, Executive Director of Enterprise Uganda, emphasized that the training’s combination of local and refugee women created a dynamic learning environment.
‘Refugees realise they can fit in and quickly become solid business people. Locals, meanwhile, see that refugees-without land, language, or contacts-are coming to do business. It’s a wake-up call for everyone,’ he explained.
He added that efficiency, time management, and proper contract handling were critical lessons for entrepreneurs seeking to compete in the fast-growing oil-related markets.
‘Hoima is now hosting an international community; you see demand for goods like chicken, eggs, goat meat, and pork-not just from locals, but from people attracted by the oil sector. The market opportunities in Bunyoro are immense. The time to adjust to international consumer standards is now,’ Mr Ocici said.
The GROW project also addresses financial barriers faced by refugees. According to Fridah Mboni, Refugee Specialist for the GROW project at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, earlier attempts to provide loans to refugee women faced challenges due to collateral requirements, since refugees cannot own property.
The GROW project is part of a broader trend in Uganda and globally to promote the economic inclusion of refugees, recognising their potential to contribute meaningfully to local economies. By offering technical training, financial access, and business guidance, the initiative seeks to strengthen the self-reliance of women refugees while integrating them into mainstream economic activities.
‘Refugee women can easily be reoriented and made great business people if the message is delivered clearly and honestly,’ Ocici noted. ‘The training also fosters peer learning, with refugees and locals learning from each other. This mutual awareness enhances business competitiveness and collaboration, ultimately benefiting the broader community,’ he added.
With the GROW project, thousands of refugee women across Uganda are expected to gain access to skills, markets, and financial resources that were previously out of reach.
‘This is the moment for refugees and local women entrepreneurs alike to step up,’ Ocici said. ‘The market is growing, opportunities are emerging, and those who prepare themselves now will reap the benefits for years to come,’ he added.