kevin kusiima

RefugeeLINK representative Kevin Kusiima and Clinton Murungi, representing Storeguy, a partner of RefugeeLINK, attended the Digital Africa – Refugee & Startup Investment Challenge Networking Event held at the Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz on 10 March 2026. The event, hosted by Digital Africa in partnership with Proparco, UNHCR, and Hive Colab, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners to strengthen support for innovative and refugee-led startups across Africa. The gathering created an opportunity for key actors in the startup and innovation ecosystem to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore ways of expanding access to financing and support for emerging ventures. It also highlighted the growing recognition of refugee entrepreneurs as important contributors to local and regional economies. Key remarks were delivered by H.E. Virginie Leroy, Ambassador of France to Uganda, Jean Guyonnet-Dupérat, Regional Director for East Africa at Proparco, and representatives from UNHCR Uganda and Hive Colab. Their contributions emphasized the importance of collaboration between development institutions, investors, and innovation hubs in supporting startups that address real social and economic challenges. Discussions during the event also highlighted the growth of Digital Africa’s investment portfolio, which has supported around 70 startups across the continent. Through early-stage financing and ecosystem support, the initiative is helping entrepreneurs develop innovative solutions, scale their businesses, and access additional capital. A strong focus was placed on refugee entrepreneurship, recognizing refugees not only as beneficiaries of support programs but also as innovators and drivers of economic growth. The partnership between Digital Africa, UNHCR, and Proparco aims to provide mentorship, technical assistance, and access to sustainable financing for refugee-led ventures, helping create pathways for displaced entrepreneurs to build resilient businesses. RefugeeLINK looks forward to continued collaboration with partners across the innovation ecosystem to unlock opportunities for refugee entrepreneurs and support inclusive startup growth across Africa.

On 24th February 2026, RefugeeLINK and African Youth Action Network (AYAN) formalized a strategic partnership through the signing of an MOU reinforcing their shared commitment to coordinated, evidence-driven refugee response. The agreement establishes a structured framework for collaboration centred on research, economic empowerment, joint programming, and accountability. A central outcome of the meeting was the recognition of a major data gap: Refugee-led enterprises and their economic contributions remain largely unquantified. The partnership will prioritize the development of a centralized information and research hub to document refugee business activity, tax compliance, licensing, and overall contribution to local and national economies. By consolidating verified data and producing evidence-based publications, RefugeeLINK aims to position itself as a credible source of research to inform policy, advocacy, and program design. The collaboration will also strengthen practical economic empowerment initiatives. Building on previous engagement with Stanbic Bank Uganda under the 10X Programme, the partners are proposing quarterly SME showcases and multi-day exhibitions to expand market access for refugee-led businesses. These platforms will create structured linkages between entrepreneurs, buyers, and strategic partners, fostering visibility, trade opportunities, and sustainable business growth. The discussion further emphasized the need to improve coordination within UN cluster platforms to reduce duplication and enhance shared documentation of impact. Stronger accountability mechanisms were highlighted, particularly ensuring that humanitarian financing results in visible infrastructure and service delivery . With clear action steps—including phased seed funding, monitoring benchmarks, and an annual events calendar—the partnership signals a shift toward measurable, sustainable outcomes that elevate refugee agency and economic contribution.  

Over 70 refugee entrepreneurs gathered in Kampala on February 17, 2026, for a transformative moment in Uganda’s economic inclusion landscape. RefugeeLINK, in partnership with Stanbic Business Incubator, hosted an outreach event for the 10X Foundational Program at our Balintuma Road offices, bringing together owners and staff of refugee-led micro, small, and medium enterprises for an immersive half-day session. This was not merely an introduction to training resources but the launch of structured digital and business skills development, complete with live platform onboarding. The event addressed four critical objectives: expanding access to practical digital entrepreneurship training, strengthening refugee-led enterprises through structured incubation, promoting financial readiness and long-term sustainability, and demonstrating a scalable private-sector partnership model for refugee economic inclusion. Leon Kalonda of RefugeeLINK moderated the proceedings, with Corinne Chance providing interpretation to ensure meaningful participation across linguistic and cultural backgrounds. DAPHINE KWARISIIMA from Stanbic delivered a compelling session on the imperative of dual-channel operations, emphasizing how digital visibility, expanded customer reach, and online payment systems have become non-negotiable elements of modern marketplace participation. The discussion moved beyond theory into immediate practical application, with participants recognizing the concrete steps required to remain competitive. A particularly resonant moment emerged during the recognition of formally registered refugee businesses. This acknowledgment carried profound significance, representing not just administrative compliance but a declaration of economic legitimacy, willingness to contribute to Uganda’s formal economy, and the dismantling of barriers that have historically excluded displaced populations from productive participation. The session culminated in live onboarding onto the 10X Foundational Course, providing these 70-plus enterprises with structured pathways toward growth, operational resilience, and market competitiveness. The energy in the room reflected something deeper than training enthusiasm, it signaled a collective recognition that refugee entrepreneurship in Uganda is transitioning from survivalist necessity to strategic business development. Partnerships between community-based organizations and established financial institutions can create genuine economic mobility when designed with dignity and scalability at their core.  

What does economic inclusion truly mean for urban refugees? On January 27th 2026, RefugeeLINK sought answers directly from the source. We hosted Focus Group Discussions with over 40 urban refugees at our Mengo office in Kampala, creating a space to listen to their daily realities as individuals and as entrepreneurs. The conversations revealed a clear portrait of resilience meeting systemic barriers. A central insight was that entrepreneurship is a necessity, not a choice. The micro-businesses they operate are vital lifelines, yet they struggle in informal economies, often excluded from formal financial systems and stable markets. Furthermore, while participants demonstrated impressive skills and determination, these assets are stifled by systems that do not respond. Critical gaps in tailored business support, documentation, and market access continue to limit their potential. Finally, we saw how current gaps in economic integration hold back shared prosperity. These refugees are eager to contribute to their host community’s economy, but they face policies and programs that rarely account for their unique circumstances. For RefugeeLINK, this dialogue is essential. It ensures our advocacy and livelihood programs are informed by evidence and lived experience, steering us toward solutions that promote genuine dignity and self-reliance. The conclusion is clear: empowering refugee entrepreneurs is not merely a humanitarian effort, but a critical development imperative. The challenge now is for all actors—humanitarian, development, and private sector—to collaborate on designing solutions that recognize and invest in the economic potential of urban refugees.

On December 12, 2025, RefugeeLink was present at a historic gathering at Motiv Bugolobi: Uganda’s inaugural national trade exhibition dedicated to refugee entrepreneurs. Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the Office of the Prime Minister, UNHCR, and key partners, the event powerfully reframed the narrative around refugees—recognizing them not as passive aid recipients, but as dynamic, vital contributors to the national economy. Our team witnessed firsthand the strong governmental commitment. The Prime Minister’s representative announced concrete policy advancements, including efforts to streamline access to Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) and work permits for refugees. Key initiatives like the World Bank-funded GROW Project and the multi-ministry Jobs and Livelihoods Integrated Response Plan were detailed, highlighting a growing support ecosystem focused on market-relevant skills training, financial access, and business development for refugees and host communities alike. Most importantly, attending allowed us to listen directly to refugee entrepreneurs. Leaders from the community articulated the ongoing challenges that stall potential: a pervasive information gap, significant language barriers, and the daunting complexity of business certification and documentation. For RefugeeLink, being at this event was both inspiring and clarifying. It reinforced our core role as a connector and enabler within this evolving landscape. We are committed to bridging the critical gap between these promising national programs and the refugee communities they aim to serve. By facilitating information flow, amplifying community-led solutions, and advocating for the implementation of supportive policies, we will work to ensure the powerful vision of economic inclusion launched at Motiv becomes a tangible reality for all.

On 19th November 2025, RefugeeLink held a structured Client Listening and Feedback Session at its premises on Balintuma Road, bringing together urban refugees to help refine and shape the organisation’s evolving service offerings. The session, moderated by Leon Kalonda of RefugeeLink, opened with an overview of RefugeeLink’s mission and the services soon to be rolled out. He emphasized the importance of the survey responses collected from participants, noting that the insights will directly guide the development and prioritization of RefugeeLink’s support programs. Representing RefugeeLink, Kevin Kusiima shared a brief introduction of the RefugeeLink initiative. He highlighted practical examples of incubation and capacity-building, citing HortiFresh Association as a successful case of an entity that has been nurtured and supported to stability. Kevin also underscored the expertise behind the initiative, noting that RefugeeLink’s consultants have extensive experience implementing refugee-focused projects with UNHCR, GIZ, and JICA. A key highlight of the event was an inspiring exhibition of hand-crafted products by Sandra Kubuya, a refugee originally from DR Congo. Participants admired her collection of both hand-knitted and machine-knitted African and Western-inspired pieces, including sweaters, bags, beachwear, headbands, and scarves—an illustration of the talent and potential within refugee communities. To close the session, Flavia restated the range of services RefugeeLink plans to offer and led participants on a guided tour of the facility. She welcomed attendees to visit the premises anytime for inquiries, support, or further engagement with RefugeeLink’s programs. The event not only fostered dialogue but also reaffirmed RefugeeLink’s commitment to co-creating solutions with the communities it serves—ensuring that future services are responsive, inclusive, and anchored in real needs.