Author: GRI Social Media Team

Research shows that 88% of Uganda’s land is arable, and the country’s economy is predominantly agricultural. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the potential to feed 200 million people. This is why our Livelihoods Department prioritizes farming as a means of empowering the refugees we work with.

Given the increasing innovations in the agricultural sector, we have made it a priority to participate in the National Annual Agriculture Trade Show, held annually in Jinja City, Uganda, where most of these innovations are showcased.

As in previous years, our Livelihoods Officer joined other livelihood and clean energy sector partners operating in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement to attend the 30th Annual National Agriculture Trade Show, which ran from July 24th to August 4th, 2024. The team also included model farmers from the refugee community, who are expected to return and help improve farming practices among their peers, thereby strengthening the livelihoods sector in the Kiryandongo Settlement.

Brian Gonzaga, GRI’s Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment Officer, who attended the event, shared his thoughts: “𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥-𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.”

Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement continues to receive new arrivals from Sudan. As these refugees adapt to their new environment, they are encouraged to engage in productive activities like farming. However, they face challenges such as a lack of seeds and farming tools to fully benefit from agriculture.

Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) is working to reduce the impact of conflict through our livelihoods and economic empowerment programs. We provide new refugee groups with high-quality vegetable seeds and farm tools to support their production efforts.

This support is especially timely as farmers prepare their fields for the upcoming rainy season in Kiryandongo District. Let’s all join hands in supporting this noble cause. Click here to donate

Just like the success story of our fruit tree orchard in one of our recent posts, today we are proud to share yet another beautiful step that we have taken together with you towards sustaining the feeding program at Ubuntu Model Primary School.

Continuing from last year, in March this year, we planted maize on 2.5 acres of land (alongside vegetables grown by learners and GRI) to supplement the feeding program.

This initiative ensures that learners have food even when supporting partners are unable to assist. This approach to sustainability not only serves its intended purpose but also contributes to environmental conservation and provides hands-on learning experiences for our pupils. Concepts like germination, among many taught in class, are practically demonstrated in the school garden.

At Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI), we are dedicated to improving the lives of refugee communities by supporting them in vegetable production. We are proud to support over 100 refugee farmers in growing nutritious vegetables like Sukuma wiki, green pepper, onions, cabbage, spinach, and okra.

These vegetables are sold locally within the settlement to other refugees, and some are bought by traders from the Bweyale market (A market close to Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement). This generates vital income to support their household needs.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with FAO, which has facilitated the construction of our second irrigation solar system. This innovative system enables our farmer groups to engage in block farming, producing vegetables and passion fruits even during the dry season.

Together, we are making a difference and empowering our communities to thrive! 

When designing our school feeding program, we envisioned a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other healthy nutrients. To achieve this, we decided to plant our own orchard with a variety of fruit trees, including mangoes, papayas, soursop, and guava. This initiative aims to benefit the school now and for generations to come. Today, we can proudly say that our vision is starting to unfold.

Focusing on papaya, one of the fastest-growing fruit trees in our orchard, the students have begun enjoying its fruits. They are served and relish the sweet, fleshy fruit as their dessert. While our primary focus is on the nutritional value it provides, our beneficiaries are delighted by both the taste and the quantity served. This fruit has certainly met the expectations of everyone involved.

With your support, we are steadily improving lives and health!

To contribute further, please click here

This week, Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) proudly joined the Run for Climate organized by Tree Adaptation Uganda (TAU)! Our involvement featured patrons from schools in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement and the host community, who are part of GRI’s Environmental Kids Club project. This initiative empowers young minds to protect and cherish our environment.

Together, we run for a greener, more sustainable future! 

In solidarity with humanity, we unite with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners in observing World Refugee Day 2024. GRI places significant importance on safeguarding the rights of all displaced individuals.

Global Refugee Initiatives Uganda welcomed Linda van der Hoek from our donor foundation Wilde Ganzen to strengthen our partnership. She visited the Bweyale field office, toured the Ubuntu Model Primary School in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, and saw projects like the Environment Kids Club and livelihood block farm. GRI anticipates as stronger collaboration with Wilde Ganzen in the coming year(s).

The second school term of the academic year 2024 is here! With all Administrators, teachers, learners and non-teaching staff active and prepared for the term, we were curious to hear what the headteacher, Ms. Agnes Nambooze, had to say about the past three days since the beginning of the term;

” We are proud to announce that approximately three-quarters of our learners reported on the first day of the school term; Provision of meals (both breakfast and lunch) for our learners commenced on same day and our dedicated team of educators and staff have ensured that the teaching and learning process is running smoothly, providing a nurturing environment for our learners to thrive.
Besides that, our teachers have been diligent in preparing the necessary teaching materials, guaranteeing that every lesson is engaging and enriching. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the positive feedback we have received from our learners and their families. Together, we will continue to nurture the academic, social, and emotional growth of every learner who walks through our doors.”

This affirmation is a testament to our collective efforts in providing a high-quality education that meets some of the diverse needs of the refugee child.

Thank you for joining hands with us to support the refugee child through education.
Continue to support our Education Programme by reaching to us through info@griuganda.org

Kiryandongo refugee settlement is currently receiving new arrivals from Sudan as a result of the ongoing political civil war in their country. However, accommodating these newcomers places a significant strain on emergency relief supplies needed by refugees to begin their resettlement journey. These supplies include water, shelter, food, healthcare, education, soap, clothing, and fuelwood. Despite efforts by the Ugandan government (OPM) and UNHCR to provide relief materials, the demand remains high due to the large number of refugees in need.

With the onset of the rainy farming season in Uganda, the Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI) is assisting new refugees by imparting skills in vegetable production. This initiative aims to provide refugees with access to a diverse and nutritious diet, including green leafy vegetables such as Sukuma wiki, purple eggplant, white eggplant, carrots, okra, green pepper, cabbage, and onions. GRI also prioritizes the health of refugees by ensuring they have sufficient land for farming, collaborating with OPM and equipping them with the necessary skills for vegetable farming as an emergency livelihood intervention.

So far, 200 new refugees have received assistance under this program.

We also call upon donors to join our cause in providing essential support to these refugees, ensuring their basic needs are met and fostering their integration into the community. Reach out to us on info@griuganda.org