Sudanese refugees in Kampala appeal for NGO support to grow small businesses

Sudanese refugees living in Kampala have appealed to non-governmental organisations and development partners for financial and material support to strengthen their small businesses and improve their livelihoods in Uganda.

The appeal was made on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, during a half-day sensitisation workshop organised by the Refugee Law Project in partnership with the SABA for Culture and Arts in Kampala.

The workshop brought together Sudanese refugees engaged in different income-generating activities to discuss their rights, business opportunities and challenges affecting their efforts to become economically self-reliant.

Among those seeking support was Fadwa Alsin, who operates a café along Salama Road in Kampala. She said her business faces several operational challenges, including a shortage of essential equipment needed to improve service delivery.

Alsin appealed to NGOs and other development partners to support her with items such as refrigerators, tables and other necessary equipment to help her expand the business and serve more customers.

Maimuna Osman, who is skilled in making traditional Sudanese crafts, also appealed for assistance, saying limited access to materials was affecting her ability to produce and market her products.

She explained that although she has the skills to make different crafts, the cost and availability of materials remain major obstacles to growing her enterprise. Osman called on organisations supporting refugees to consider providing materials and other resources that would enable skilled refugees to use their talents to generate income and sustain their families.

Similarly, Aman Fadili, who operates a bakery in Kabusu, Kampala, said the business faces challenges that require external support to improve its operations and expand production. The participants said access to business equipment, materials and other resources would help them overcome some of the difficulties they face while establishing livelihoods in Uganda.

Speaking during the workshop, Edrees Emadalden, director of SABA for Culture and Arts, called on NGOs, humanitarian organisations, private-sector players and other development partners to establish partnerships that support Sudanese refugees engaged in small businesses. Emadalden said SABA, a fully registered organisation, is committed to supporting its members and promoting Sudanese culture and arts, but needs more partners to address the practical challenges affecting members' businesses.

He encouraged development organisations to look beyond humanitarian assistance and consider supporting refugees with resources that can help them build sustainable livelihoods.

The workshop was also attended by the Islamic Development Partnership Network (IDPN), an Arua-based non-governmental organisation that focuses, among other areas, on monitoring refugee-related issues. IDPN's participation highlighted the importance of collaboration between organisations working on refugee protection, rights awareness and community development.

The sensitisation workshop provided an opportunity for Sudanese refugees to share their experiences, understand their rights and highlight the economic challenges they encounter while trying to establish businesses in Uganda.

Uganda hosts refugees from several countries, including Sudan, where conflict has forced many people to flee their homes in search of safety and protection.

For the Sudanese entrepreneurs who participated in the workshop, access to basic business equipment, production materials and partnerships could make a significant difference in turning their skills and small enterprises into sustainable sources of income.

They urged NGOs and development partners to translate commitments to refugee support into practical interventions that enable refugees to earn a living, contribute to their host communities and rebuild their lives with dignity.