'Strengthen refugee access to formal employment'

The Amahoro Coalition, a non-government organisation advocating refugee empowerment, has called on employers, especially in the private sector, to embrace practical reforms and shared commitment in strengthening refugee access to formal employment.

The organisation states that Uganda, which currently hosts over two-million refugees, has built a progressive legal framework for refugees and is widely recognised for having one of the most progressive refugee policy environments in the world.

However, there were numerous challenges and hurdles that blocked refugees from enjoying their rights to employment opportunities.

The country, the organisation states, needs to simplify administrative processes, expand apprenticeship and job-matching programmes, as well as create tangible incentives that can enable refugees to find employment in the private sector.

Mercy Kusiwaa Frimpong, a Strategy Custodian for Communications at Amahoro Coalition, said, “Uganda has built a progressive legal framework. The opportunity now is for the private sector to step forward as a key partner in delivering on that promise.”

She explained that refugees are entrepreneurs, workers and consumers.

“With clearer guidance, practical incentives and stronger partnerships, businesses can play a transformative role in advancing inclusive growth for refugees."

She suggested several options in strengthening refugee access to formal employment, which she said require practical reforms and shared commitment.

She said, “Simplifying administrative processes, expanding apprenticeship and job-matching programmes, creating tangible incentives for private sector recruitment, and investing in university access through scholarships and blended learning models can help bridge the gap between policy and practice.”

In a press statement, the organisation states that Uganda has established a strong legal foundation for economic inclusion, but turning these rights into real employment opportunities remains a challenge for many refugees.

“Guided by the 2006 Refugee Act and the 2010 Refugee Regulations, the country (Uganda) grants refugees the right to move freely, work, open businesses, own land, access public services, open bank accounts and apply for loans,” it states, adding that this entirely remains on paper.

“There is a need for a deeper and more structured private sector engagement, which will be essential in unlocking refugee talent and driving inclusive growth.”

Amahoro Coalition formed part of their findings on the lack of access to full employment by refugees from a Uganda-specific study that forms part of a 15-country research series.

The organisation commissioned the study that was conducted by the Refugee-Led Research Hub at the University of Oxford, The series examines pathways to formal employment for refugees across Africa, identifying policy gaps, administrative bottlenecks and opportunities for stronger private sector participation in each
national context.

“While refugees have the legal right to work in Uganda, uncertainty persists around administrative requirements,” the press release states.

It was also established that although the Ministry of Internal Affairs requires refugees to obtain work permits, the specific requirements are not clearly outlined in publicly accessible regulations.

“In practice, refugees must first obtain a Conventional Travel Document before securing a work permit stamp,” the release states, adding that the document costs approximately sh215,000 ($60) and requires one to travel to Kampala capital city.

It says the money requirement and the inconvenience of travelling to Kampala from any upcountry station or settlement can be prohibitive for refugees, plus delays in processing it, which it states, further complicates access.

It also expresses concern over what it terms as lack of clear guidelines on how to obtain a work permit stamp, and publicly available data and limited information on how many refugees have successfully secured access.

Amahoro laments that, as a result, many refugees in Uganda work without the formal permits because they are not explicitly referenced in the 2006 Act or the 2010 Regulations.

“Some employers do not require the permits, but when they insist on formal documentation, the lack of clarity becomes a barrier to hiring.”

As a result, the statement reads, only 29% of refugees in Uganda are actively working compared to 64% of members of the host communities.

Other challenges include limited access to higher education, which reduces refugees’ ability to compete for skilled positions. However, those refugees who secure employment often work below their qualifications and earn lower wages.

Other issues raised are the said discrimination, which further shapes employment outcomes.

As a result, within the humanitarian sector, refugees are frequently engaged as volunteers or incentive workers, with limited remuneration and restricted access to senior leadership roles.

Way Forward

Frimpong emphasised simplifying administrative processes, expanding apprenticeship and job-matching programmes, creating tangible incentives for private sector recruitment, and investing in university education access through scholarships and blended learning models, which can help bridge the gap between policy and practice.

“Uganda’s policy framework has laid the groundwork. The next phase depends on sustained private sector leadership to ensure that the right to work becomes a lived reality. There is also need for refugee inclusion, which contributes to long-term economic resilience for both refugees and host communities,” Frimpong explains.