GRIT, SKILLS AND LUCK: EXAMINING THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF REFUGEES IN UGANDA

The report examines the financial lives of refugees in Uganda, focusing on the settlements of Nakivale, Bidibidi, Palorinya, and the capital, Kampala. It highlights a significant shift from regular employment to self-employment, with the share of refugees in regular jobs dropping from 25% in their home countries to 6% in Uganda. The average monthly income for refugees is 160,000 UGX, with Kampala having the highest median (205,000 UGX) and Palorinya the lowest (90,417 UGX). The study notes a strong adoption of new financial tools, specifically mobile money (increasing from 7% to 30%) and Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations (ASCAs). Women have shown significant economic progress, with their median monthly earnings nearly tripling from 46,000 UGX to 130,000 UGX. The report also identifies critical vulnerabilities, such as the high cost of charcoal and limited access to medical care, with 20% of refugees unable to afford necessary doctors or medicine.

• Refugees have experienced a sharp decline in regular employment since arriving in Uganda, with the share of those in regular jobs falling from 25% in their home countries to 6% in Uganda. This trend is most severe in Kampala, where 46% had regular jobs before leaving compared to only 7% now.
• There has been a significant transition toward self-employment; 52% of refugees now support themselves through small independent businesses, compared to 32% in their countries of origin. The highest rates of small business ownership are found in Bidibidi (80%) and Kampala (57%).
• The average monthly income for refugees is 160,000 UGX, though this varies by location, ranging from 90,000 UGX in Palorinya to 205,000 UGX in Kampala. In Kampala, high incomes are partly driven by remittances, with 54% of refugees receiving an average of 180,000 UGX per month.
• Charcoal is the most significant regular expense for refugees, costing an average of 40,000 UGX per month and accounting for nearly half of all regular expenditures.
• Refugees have rapidly adopted new financial instruments, with mobile money usage increasing from 7% in their countries of origin to 30% in Uganda. Additionally, 41% now use savings groups, with a strong preference for Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations (ASCAs) over Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs).
• Women refugees have demonstrated substantial economic growth, with their median monthly earnings nearly tripling from 46,000 UGX to 130,000 UGX. The proportion of women employed outside the home rose from 55% in their country of origin to 82% in Uganda.
• Refugees generally possess higher education levels than their host communities, with 36% of refugees having a secondary education or above compared to 21% of the host community. This is most prominent in Kampala, where 68% of refugees have a secondary education or above.
• Access to healthcare remains a critical gap; 20% of refugees needed a doctor or medicine but were unable to obtain them, an event that occurred an average of six times per person in the past year.
• Refugees face specific risks related to digital finance, with 17% experiencing blocked SIM cards, resulting in an average loss of 30,000 UGX in mobile money.

APA

FSD Africa (n.d.). GRIT, SKILLS AND LUCK: EXAMINING THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF REFUGEES IN UGANDA. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FI4R-Baseline-13072020ii_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

FSD Africa. GRIT, SKILLS AND LUCK: EXAMINING THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF REFUGEES IN UGANDA. n.d. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FI4R-Baseline-13072020ii_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=FSD Africa |title=GRIT, SKILLS AND LUCK: EXAMINING THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF REFUGEES IN UGANDA |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FI4R-Baseline-13072020ii_FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafricandgrit, author = {{FSD Africa}}, title = {{GRIT, SKILLS AND LUCK: EXAMINING THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF REFUGEES IN UGANDA}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FI4R-Baseline-13072020ii_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }