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EU, Enabel boost refugees with vocational skills

BE Editor 8th Jul, 2024 Economy Pedson Mumbere
EU, Enabel boost refugees with vocational skills

A trainee displays her laundry soap products during the passing out.


More than 5,000 youth in refugee communities in the West Nile Region have been passed out after receiving vocational skills aimed at boosting their self-employment opportunities and household incomes.

The training, which covered a wide range of vocational skills including motorcycle repair, tailoring, and metal welding, among others, was sponsored by the European Union and implemented by Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency.

Speaking at the passing out of the trainees over the weekend, Simon Edeku, the Principal Officer for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the Ministry of Education and Sports, underscored the need for mindset change and the fostering of an environment where refugees can gain skills that not only benefit them but also contribute to the broader community.

  • "For us to move forward, we must focus on inclusive development and a shift in how we view and approach green job opportunities," he said.

Charles Okot, the project coordinator, detailed the scope of the skills training initiative, which aimed at providing refugees with the technical expertise needed to secure employment or start their own enterprises.

"Our goal was to equip refugees with practical skills that would enable them to create a livelihood for themselves and contribute positively to their communities," Okot explained.

  • The beneficiaries, including Kolongwa Alice and Wani Johnson, highlighted the challenges that they still face after acquiring the skills. Kolongwa, a refugee who was trained in tailoring, shared her struggle with inadequate capital for purchasing materials and tools.
EU, Enabel boost refugees with vocational skillsSome of the products made by trainees during the training.

"I have the skills, but without the resources to buy the necessary inputs, it is difficult to start a business or even to provide services effectively," she said.

Similarly, Wani Johnson, who was trained in motorcycle repair, pointed out the lack of sufficient toolkits and a limited market for his services. "We need more support in terms of equipment and access to customers who need our services. Without these, it is hard to sustain a business," he said.

These concerns reflect the broader issues faced by refugees in the labor market, and which require further support to overcome. While the skilling program has laid a foundation for economic empowerment, there is a clear need for ongoing support from both the Government and private sector to address these gaps.

Officials called for the creation of more opportunities for refugees so as to ensure that these initiatives lead to sustainable outcomes. They urged the Government, along with international partners and the private sector, to build on the successes of the skilling program by expanding access to resources, providing financial support for startups, and creating market linkages for refugee entrepreneurs.

  • This comprehensive approach is essential for translating vocational training into viable career paths for refugees, thereby addressing the unemployment challenge and fostering a more inclusive economy.
  • The West Nile region is home to more than 500,000 refugees from South Sudan, living in dozens of refugee settlements in the four districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko and Yumbe.

By embracing inclusive development and addressing the practical challenges faced by refugees, Uganda can pave the way for sustainable solutions that benefit both refugees and the broader community.

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