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

This report analyzes the financial lives of refugees in Uganda, highlighting a shift from regular employment to self-employment and the adoption of new financial tools like mobile money and ASCAs. While overall earnings have decreased for many, women have seen significant gains in employment and income. The study emphasizes the role of 'grit' in adaptation, the importance of remittances (especially in Kampala), and the continued challenges regarding healthcare access and high costs of basic needs like charcoal.

• Refugees experienced a significant decline in regular employment after arriving in Uganda, dropping from 25% in their home countries to 6% in Uganda. This trend was most severe for those in Kampala, where regular employment fell from 46% to 7%. Consequently, average monthly earnings decreased from 360,000 UGX to 205,000 UGX.
• There has been a marked shift toward self-employment among refugees, increasing from 32% in their countries of origin to 52% in Uganda. Small independent businesses provide an average monthly income of approximately 100,000 UGX. The highest rates of small business ownership were found in Bidibidi (80%) and Kampala (57%).
• Refugees have shown a high readiness to adopt new financial tools. Mobile money usage rose from 7% before leaving their home countries to 30% in Uganda, with average balances of 5,000 UGX. Usage of savings groups increased from 32% to 41%, with a shift from Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) to Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations (ASCAs), the latter of which allow for borrowing.
• Women refugees have seen substantial economic growth and increased employment. The proportion of women employed outside the home rose from 55% in their countries of origin to 82% in Uganda. Their average monthly earnings nearly tripled, increasing from 46,000 UGX to 130,000 UGX, while men's earnings decreased by 15% (from 220,000 UGX to 185,000 UGX).
• Refugees generally possess higher education levels than their host communities, with 36% having reached secondary level or above compared to 21% of the host community.
• In Nakivale, refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo leveraged farming skills to diversify crops and earn more than host communities. Nakivale farmers earn an average of 67,000 UGX monthly, compared to 42,500 UGX for hosts. They also contribute more to ASCAs (26,000 UGX per month) and have higher borrowing rates from informal groups (13% borrowing an average of 110,000 UGX).
• Remittances are a critical income source, particularly in Kampala, where 54% of refugees receive an average of 180,000 UGX per month. Across the total refugee sample, 25% receive an average monthly remittance of 42,000 UGX.
• 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 face significant barriers to healthcare; one-fifth of the sample required 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.
• Financial insecurity is exacerbated by the risk of losing funds via mobile money; 17% of refugees experienced their SIM cards being blocked, resulting in an average loss of 30,000 UGX.

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} }