Category Archives: Governance, Policy & Advocacy

BANK LOAN TRANSFORMS A SINGLE MOTHER’S LIFE, HELPING HER REBUILD AND START BUSINESS

BANK LOAN TRANSFORMS A SINGLE MOTHER’S LIFE, HELPING HER REBUILD AND START BUSINESS

Noella Nyirahabimana is a 32-year-old Congolese refugee living in the Kyaka 2 refugee settlement.  She is also a single mother of 4 children and is a member of the Maendeloe savings and credit association. Noella and her children survive on cash rations and daily transactions she makes in a market in Kakoni village. She buys small produce from wholesalers in the market and resells it to meet the daily needs of her household. Noella displays her produce in front of her house When the VSLA group secured a second loan of 5 million shillings from Equity Bank in July 2024, Noella borrowed 200,000 shillings. She stated that this support came […]

Empowering Refugees Through Communication: Radio Distribution In Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement

Empowering Refugees Through Communication: Radio Distribution In Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement

In the heart of Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, where thousands of displaced individuals navigate the challenges of daily life, a transformative initiative is reshaping how communities connect with the world around them. As part of the Sustainable Transition to Locally Led Emergency and Protection Services (STEPS) project, KRC-Uganda, with funding from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), has distributed portable radios to refugees, offering a lifeline of information and hope. This initiative, known as BE THERE, is empowering communities through the simple yet powerful medium of radio, providing access to essential information and fostering a sense of belonging among displaced populations. STEPS Project team distributing radios to […]

CHILDREN AND CONFLICT: RESILIENCE AND PEACEBUILDING AT RHINO REFUGEE SETTLEMENT CAMP

CHILDREN AND CONFLICT: RESILIENCE AND PEACEBUILDING AT RHINO REFUGEE SETTLEMENT CAMP

As the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Rhino Refugee Settlement Camp in Uganda’s West Nile region, I have witnessed the profound impact conflict has on children. Nestled within the Terego and Madi-Okolo districts, Rhino Camp serves as a refuge for families escaping violence and instability. In these challenging environments, addressing the effects of war on children and actively involving them in peacebuilding efforts is not just important, it’s imperative. Humanitarian actors empowering adolescents during an EASE session Children in conflict zones often emerge as the most vulnerable population, facing immense trauma, loss, and displacement. The scars from these experiences can have lasting psychological effects. However, with the right support, […]

THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

In today’s fast-paced world, stress and anxiety have become common challenges for many. Amidst the chaos, mindfulness meditation has emerged as a powerful tool for promoting mental well-being and enhancing the quality of life  Caregivers practicing mindfulness meditation during a training session Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. It encourages individuals to observe their thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise, fostering a greater awareness of the present. Unlike other forms of meditation that may focus on specific goals or outcomes, mindfulness is about being fully engaged in the here and now. Starting a mindfulness meditation practice is simple. Begin by setting […]

Gender Discrimination against Women and Girls

Gender Discrimination against Women and Girls

Gender discrimination occurs when one sex is favoured over the other, leading to disadvantages for the opposite gender. In our society, we frequently encounter such discriminatory situations between women/girls and men/boys. Globally, it is estimated that 736 million women—nearly one in three—have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner at least once in their lives, with 30% of women aged 15 and older affected (UN Women, 2023). In the same report, most violence against women is perpetrated by current and or former or intimate partners. More than 640 million or 26 % of women aged 15 years and older have been subjected to intimate partner violence. […]

Community Conversation Spark Community Nutrition Action

Community Conversation Spark Community Nutrition Action

Community conversations, commonly referred to as CC, are a nonlinear process that facilitates open and free discussions among community members about issues affecting their daily lives, enabling them to devise local action plans and solutions. In Misenyi village, Kakabara sub-county, the issue of malnutrition and stunting emerged as a critical concern during one of the CC sessions facilitated by youth champions under the Young Africa Works program, Cohort 3, in Kyegegwa district. Identifying this issue, two youth champions from the Misenyi Group of Hope, a local VSLA, raised it with the nutrition focal persons at Kakabara Health Center III. This led to their selection for training as Nutrition Lead Mothers […]

World Refugee Day 2024: KRC-Uganda’s Commitment to Honoring Refugees in Bidi Bidi Settlement

World Refugee Day 2024: KRC-Uganda’s Commitment to Honoring Refugees in Bidi Bidi Settlement

A person is considered a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention if they have fled their place of origin due to well-founded fear of persecution based on their ethnicity, political beliefs, religion, or other characteristics. This definition also extends to individuals who have been displaced by man-made or natural disasters. World Refugee Day is observed on June 20th of each year as a way to honor the bravery and tenacity of the millions of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes because of war, persecution, or natural catastrophes. The theme “Hope Away from Home” is particularly relevant in 2024 as it highlights the resilience refugees demonstrate despite being […]

KRC-Uganda’s role in fostering unity and prosperity through Contract Farming

KRC-Uganda’s role in fostering unity and prosperity through Contract Farming

The maize garden after the application of the agricultural inputs from MYIB. In a remarkable effort to promote unity and collaboration, KRC-Uganda has played a crucial role in connecting youth from the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement and the surrounding host community with contract farming opportunities. Through these efforts, these young individuals have been linked with landowners and provided with necessary resources such as seeds and agricultural inputs from MYIB. This article explores the pivotal role of KRC-Uganda in enabling refugee and host community youth to engage in maize farming, creating economic prospects, and fostering mutual cooperation. KRC-Uganda has acted as a bridge between the youth from the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement and […]

Budget Tracking & Analysis for WASH in Lira & Kabarole Districts

Budget Tracking & Analysis for WASH in Lira & Kabarole Districts

Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services are critical in ensuring people enjoy a good standard of living and that their rights are fulfilled. Despite the Government of Uganda (GoU) effort the WHO/UNICEF joint monitoring report 2021 reports that 20 million people in Uganda do not have access to a basic water source, 34 million people do not have access to basic sanitation services and 33 million people cannot practice good hygiene. The Kabarole Research Centre with funding from WaterAid undertook a budget and expenditure analysis study in Lira and Kabarole districts to get a better understanding of how these macro financial trends work out at district level. The study […]