On June 20, 2025, Uganda marked World Refugee Day with national celebrations held in Panyadoli Zone, Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement under the global theme “Solidarity with Refugees.” The event was a vibrant showcase of resilience, cultural diversity, and the transformative power of opportunity, particularly for young people affected by displacement.
Akey highlight of the day was the participation of the Refugee and Youth Empowerment and Transformation Initiative (RETI), implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Represented by twoimplementing partners - Gulu University and Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), RETI showcased the transformative impact of its work through exhibitions led by young program participants. These displays reflected how refugee and host community youth, empowered with practical skills and confidence, are overcoming adversity and moving toward self-reliance.
Among the exhibitors was a 19-year-old Anena Kevin a South Sudanese refugee, who shared her heartfelt experience: “Never did I know that such a moment would cross my path,” shesaid, her face glowing with happiness. “This is our first time ever to showcase our skills before many people, it’sfeels like backbenchers who end up being the best in class”.
According to Anena, they initially depended solely on UN support, which ended due to financial pressure worldwide. “Life became hard after food rations were stopped” she said. “But when I got information about this skills training program from our Ranch leader, I immediately applied and enrolled for hairdressing and barbering. Here we are, with my fellow youth, showing what we can do,” she said beaming with pride.
The celebration not only served as a platform for recognition of the resilience of refugees but also opened new business opportunities for them.“The exhibition increased our visibility and market base”,said Taban Moses, another youth trained by Gulu University in bakery and confectionary. “We secured two contracts - one with abusinessman from Masindi and another with the owner of Kiryandongo Sugar Factory to supply snacks like cakes, cookies, samosa, mandazi and roasted ground nuts for the factory workers,” Taban explained confidently
The True Meaning of “Solidarity with Refugees”
Meanwhile across the country, the day was commemorated in the different settlements, some on different dates, but with the same key message “solidarity with refugees”.
At the celebrations held in Rhino Camp Settlement at Wanyange Primary School grounds, Odobu Zone, Arubaku Kenneth, speaking on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer of Madi-OkolloDistrict, called on stakeholders to embody the true spirit of “solidarity with refugees.” He emphasized that refugees seek more than just safety, they seek opportunities to rebuild their lives. He underscored that genuine solidarity means ensuring both legal and economic protection, which are essential for fostering resilience and long-term self-reliance among refugee communities.
In Lobule Refugee Settlement, Koboko District, where World Refugee Day celebrations were held on June 26, 2025, refugee leaders appealed for increased access to land for agricultural production to support their journey toward self-reliance. In light of diminishing international support, they emphasized the need for locally driven solutions to address the ongoing challenges facing refugee communities.
Abe Samuel, Chairperson of the Refugee Welfare Council III in Lobule, noted that many refugees currently rent land from host community members at a cost of UGX 60,000 per acre, an expense that remains out of reach for many families. In response, the Chairperson of Koboko District Local Government assured the refugee leadership of the possibility of accessing land outside the settlement. He highlighted areas such as Ludara Sub-county as potential relocation sites, where land could be made available to support refugee agricultural activities.
About the RETI Program
Launched in 2023, RETI is implemented through a 9 partner consortium led by Muni University with afocus of empowering youth aged 15–35 across 15 refugee-hosting districts in Uganda. Its goal is to train 100,000 young people, 60% female and 70% refugees, 3% persons with disability, and transition 70,000 of them to dignified employment by 2027. Overall, RETI partners have so far trained 32,000 young people and transitioned 5,771 into work.
To RETI, solidarity with refugees means unlocking their potential. The activities during World Refugee Day show that with the right support, young refugees can thrive. Learn more about the RETI program and how it empowers young people by visiting RETI website at https://reti.muni.ac.ug