BrighterMonday Uganda and Mastercard Foundation Partner to Empower Refugee and Host Community Youth in Kiryandongo

By our Reporter

BrighterMonday Uganda and Mastercard Foundation Partner to Empower Refugee and Host Community Youth in Kiryandongo

BrighterMonday Uganda, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has hosted a major community engagement event at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, dedicated to addressing the pressing employment and opportunity gaps faced by young people in Uganda’s refugee and host communities.

The event, held under the theme “Bridging Opportunity Gaps: Displacement, Dignity, and Work in Uganda,” attracted close to 700 participants, among them more than 570 youth from refugee and host populations, community leaders, policymakers, and key development stakeholders. Its focus was on creating meaningful dialogue and building practical pathways that enable young people—many of whom face extraordinary challenges—to access dignified work and economic opportunities.

Responding to urgent needs

Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with the majority being young people of working age. For many, barriers such as limited access to education, skills development, and formal employment make it difficult to secure sustainable livelihoods. Recognizing this, BrighterMonday Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation joined forces under the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy to provide young people with the tools, training, and networks required to succeed in the job market.

“This initiative is about more than just jobs,” organizers noted. “It is about dignity, resilience, and ensuring that displaced youth are not left behind in Uganda’s development story.”

An interactive and inclusive experience

The event was carefully structured to engage participants at multiple levels. The morning began with a keynote address that set the tone for the day, followed by powerful testimonials from young people whose personal stories reflected both the struggles and possibilities facing displaced communities. Among the highlights was the inspiring account of a refugee youth entrepreneur who detailed their journey of overcoming hardship to establish a successful small business.

The afternoon was devoted to four interactive sessions designed to give participants hands-on learning experiences:

• Refugee & Youth Story Circles – safe spaces where young people could openly share their personal journeys, fostering empathy and understanding.

• Skills Access Station – a hub offering practical resources, career guidance, and training opportunities tailored to youth needs.

• Policy Dialogue Table – a platform that brought together local leaders, policymakers, and development partners to address systemic barriers and explore actionable solutions.

• Enterprise Showcase – a vibrant exhibition of youth-led businesses, underscoring the potential and creativity within both refugee and host communities.

Voices from the leaders

Speaking at the event, Pamela Kabahesi, Country Programs Lead at BrighterMonday Uganda, underscored the importance of investing in youth potential.

“At BrighterMonday Uganda, we believe in building dignified pathways for young people, including internally displaced persons, to thrive. By working with the Mastercard Foundation, we are able to deliver our expertise in job matching and career development directly to a community that is rich with talent and ambition. What we have seen today—these stories, these connections—marks the beginning of a larger movement to dismantle barriers for Uganda’s youth.”

District Chairperson Aliguma Edith Adyer also lauded the initiative, noting the strides made toward promoting peace and cooperation between refugees and host communities in Kiryandongo. She encouraged continuous investment in programs that foster coexistence, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth.

Looking ahead

The event concluded with a session titled Commitments from Partners, during which participating organizations and individuals made practical pledges to support displaced youth. These commitments included mentorship opportunities, capacity-building programs, and pledges to expand employment pathways within both local businesses and national institutions.

For many attendees, the day was more than just a one-time gathering—it was a turning point. It brought together diverse voices and created a sense of collective responsibility for empowering young people whose lives are often defined by displacement.

As Uganda continues to grapple with high levels of youth unemployment, particularly among refugees and marginalized groups, initiatives like this demonstrate the power of partnerships. By combining BrighterMonday Uganda’s expertise in job placement with the Mastercard Foundation’s mission to enable dignified and fulfilling work, the collaboration is setting a new standard for how development organizations can work hand-in-hand with communities.

Ultimately, the event in Kiryandongo was not just about discussing challenges but about actively creating solutions. It reinforced the idea that when young people are given the right opportunities, they are not only capable of transforming their own futures but also contributing meaningfully to their communities and to Uganda’s broader economic growth.