The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In a major push toward economic independence for displaced populations, Equity Bank Uganda has concluded an intensive financial literacy and enterprise development training program for 200 refugees.
The comprehensive two-day workshop, hosted at the John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre in Nsambya July 14 and 15, was organised in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) under the prominent REBUILD Project.
The strategic intervention was specifically designed to transition urban refugees from relying heavily on humanitarian aid to achieving self-sustaining livelihoods.
By targeting small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs within the refugee community, the training focused on key financial pillars, including practical financial management, enterprise development, saving frameworks and debt management.
These were to empower participants with knowledge on proper loan utilization, understanding interest mechanisms, and managing business credit.
A primary focus of the engagement was raising awareness about formal, affordable financing opportunities tailored to vulnerable communities.
Historically, refugees face immense systemic hurdles when trying to access traditional banking due to a lack of conventional collateral or formal identification.
By opening pathways to specialized financial packages, the program actively dismantles these barriers. Access to these formal credit channels ensures that refugee-led enterprises can confidently clear immediate operational expenses, fund growth, and maintain long-term corporate sustainability.
The IRC’s REBUILD project seeks to promote sustainable livelihood solutions for thousands of refugees across East Africa.
By collaborating with institutions like Equity Bank, the initiative effectively replaces standard cash-drop dependence with long-term banking infrastructure and commercial empowerment. This milestone training builds on Equity Bank’s ongoing national framework of expanding financial inclusion through its network of over 262 dedicated banking agents deeply integrated into refugee settlements and hosting communities across Uganda.
