In a bid to improve household incomes and promote self-reliance among young people, five youth groups comprising both nationals and refugees in Ukusijoni Sub-county, Adjumani District, have received cash grants worth Shs 11 million to boost their business enterprises under a youth livelihoods program.
The beneficiaries were selected from a competitive pool of seven youth groups, made up of sixty members, who initially pitched and presented viable business proposals.
The five winning groups are now venturing into income-generating enterprises such as bakery, vegetable production, charging parlors, poultry keeping, and apiary.
Marian Prossy Nafula, the Area Project Manager for Food for the Hungry, noted that the initiative aims to empower youth with practical means of livelihood while fostering resilience and economic independence.
“We are committed to creating opportunities for both refugee and host community youth to thrive. These grants are not just about money they are a stepping stone toward transforming lives and restoring dignity,” said Nafula.
One of the beneficiaries, Florence Opia, a member of the Bright Future Youth Group, expressed optimism about the impact of the support.
“This grant has given us hope. We now have the means to scale up our poultry project and generate income to support our families,” she said.
Adjumani District currently hosts the largest refugee population in Uganda, with over 250,000 refugees residing in 19 settlements across the district.
With increasing financial constraints facing humanitarian operations, stakeholders are exploring sustainable solutions to support livelihoods.
Titus Jogo, the Refugee Desk Officer in Adjumani under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), emphasized the importance of such interventions amid declining donor funding.
“Youth livelihoods projects like this come at a critical time. With a significant drop in donor support, equipping young people with tools to create their own income is the most practical approach to sustaining refugee operations,” Jogo remarked.
The program highlights the potential of youth entrepreneurship to bridge humanitarian and development efforts, offering hope for a future where young people, regardless of status, can thrive and contribute to community growth.