YARID Uganda

13/03/2026

300 women came together at YARID today for a legal awareness session during our commemoration in Kampala.

During the session, we addressed barriers many women face when seeking justice, including fear, stigma, lack of knowledge, and uncertainty about where to report cases. One message was made clear: women from refugee and host communities are protected equally under the laws of Uganda.

We were joined by Judith Anyango, Paralegal at Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDS, who shared insights on legal protections and also spoke about HIV prevention and cervical cancer awareness.

The event also featured four women who completed YARID programmes in hairdressing, tailoring, arts and crafts, and Job Training and Placement, sharing how the training helped them improve their livelihoods.

And yes, there was plenty of dancing. 💃

A big thank you to all YARID participants and staff who joined today’s session, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for supporting the event.

𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀. 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

11/03/2026

𝗔 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗼, Philomenya Hadjir Bisangi worked as a waitress in Kampala to support her two children. The job helped her get by, but it offered little stability for her family.

As a single mother from DR Congo, she had always been interested in hairdressing. But without access to training, she could not turn that interest into employment.

When a friend told her about YARID’s hairdressing training, she applied and got accepted. At the time she was still working in the restaurant, where the hours were long and demanding.

𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Before joining YARID, she knew how to wash and blow dry hair but did not know how to plait hair. During the training she learned professional braiding techniques such as cornrows, knotless braids and dreadlocks. She also developed skills in customer care and working in a salon environment.

After graduating, Philomenya secured a job at a salon in Buziga Water Pump in Kampala, where she has now been working for three months as a professional hairdresser.

“𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.”

Through her new income she has begun saving to further develop her dreadlocks skills, which bring higher income than regular braids.

Philomenya’s long-term goal is now to open a salon of her own.💇🏾‍♀️

At YARID, we offers various vocational skill training classes in Kampala, including hairdressing, tailoring, arts and crafts, welding and ICT. Classes are free of charge with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

08/03/2026

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮!🌹
Today we celebrate the strength, leadership, and contributions of women and girls. But celebration alone is not enough. Advancing rights, justice, and opportunities for women requires continued action.

𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀. 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. ✊🏽
Those words sit at the center of today’s message. Because rights are strengthened when women claim them, justice matters when it is accessible, and action grows when women come together and raise their voices.

This week we are hosting a 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 in Nsambya, bringing together women and girls of different nationalities from refugee and host communities to discuss legal rights and explore ways to access justice and services in Uganda.

📅 Friday, 13 March
📍 YARID, Nsambya.

Supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Because rights, justice, and opportunities must reach and be available for every woman and girl.

09/01/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟴𝟴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁. This marks an important step toward strengthening access to consistent and inclusive primary education for newly arrived children.

The interviews brought forward educators with classroom experience, strong language skills, and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Several candidates also bring lived experience of displacement, an asset in classrooms supporting children navigating disruption and transition.

Placing the right teachers in classrooms is central to improving access, retention, and learning outcomes. Through ECHO RISE, this work responds to immediate education needs while laying the groundwork for stability and continuity in primary schools.

ECHORISE is a consortium led by Save the Children Uganda and supported by the European Union in Uganda, with YARID and partners implementing education activities in Refugee Settlement.

We appreciate all candidates who participated in the interviews and look ahead to the next phase of onboarding in the coming weeks.

05/01/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀!

Registration is now open for 2026 classes in English for Adults, ICT, hairdressing, tailoring, welding, arts and crafts, and job training at YARID_Uganda.

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Classes will begin in the first week of February at YARID learning centres across Kampala.

To register or ask questions, reach out using the contact details on the poster.

Supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation & Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative.

18/09/2025

𝗬𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗗 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Convened by Innovations for Poverty Action with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the session provided space to engage directly with the OPM Uganda and share feedback to ensure the draft policy reflects the realities of refugee communities in shaping services, jobs, and cohesion in .

Access to employment emerged as a key concern, and ’s Executive Director, Robert Hakiza, asked for clarity: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘜𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴”.

The OPM explained that permits are a requirement but are fee-exempt for refugees. On the challenge on obtaining permits, Hakiza added: “𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦 𝘐𝘋, 𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴?”

Other RLO leaders echoed this and raised further priorities for the draft policy, including: mental health in service delivery, disability inclusion, and recognition of RLOs as actors in a coordinated national refugee response. The OPM acknowledged the feedback, noting that the review process is ongoing.

At YARID Uganda, we value this dialogue as a step toward a more inclusive and coordinated refugee response in Uganda and look forward to continued engagement.

Refugee Led Organization Network
African Youth Action Network - AYAN
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Innovations for Poverty Action

21/06/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝟴 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗗’𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘆𝗮. Participants from South Sudan, Sudan, DR Congo, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda came together, to share food, dance, and stories from their culture. The Congolese and Sudanese dances lifted the crowd. The Eritrean group marked Martyrs’ Day with remembrance. People laughed, clapped, exchanged handshakes. They sang each other’s songs. Tried each other’s food. It was honest. It was real. Most memorable, a young boy from Afghanistan, spoke with confidence about his country, their wealth, and culture.

Madam Peace from Kampala Capital City Authority - KCCA led a moment of silence for all those lost to war and displacement. She reminded us that this is the time to stand together. To look at what connects us as people living in Uganda. A YARID participant from South Sudan said something that stayed with us: “Irrespective of where we’re all from, just know that in Africa we are at home.”

We thank all participants who made today truly a unique display and celebration of cultural diversity in Uganda. Thank you to all refugee community leaders, UNHCR Uganda, Kampala Capital City Authority - KCCAl, and partners for honoring our invitation, and thanks to Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for supporting our efforts.

18/06/2025

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 | 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
This year, we're joining the national commemorations in , II, , and . We call upon partners to stand in solidarity with refugees by listening, acting together, and placing refugee leadership at the center of our collective response.

𝗜𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. We're donating to the KCCA-led Kisenyi Hospital, which treats most refugees in the city. On June 20th, we're hosting a Cultural Gala, with 10 nationalities exhibiting their cultures through dance, food, and storytelling. The commemorations continue with a police dialogue engaging our refugee youth on rights and services, followed by a football match to combat misconceptions and promote social cohesion.

𝗪𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲𝘀,
𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

28/05/2025

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆🩸 At YARID, we stand with adolescent girls to break the silence and stigma around .

Last year, we supported over 700 girls across Kampala with hygiene kits containing sanitary pads, underwear, soap, and shavers. Our Protection Team distributed the kits in the Sudanese, Somali, Congolese, Burundian, South Sudanese, Eritrean, Rwandan, and Ugandan host communities.

Before receiving the kits, many of these girls had no access to basic menstrual products. This often meant missed school days and lowered self-esteem.

𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁. Together let us create a

Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative

06/05/2025

𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮. In Nakivale Refugee Settlement, 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 ABCCI Uganda is stepping up with a community-rooted response. Their Mama Care Project supports adolescent girls and expectant mothers, some as young as 14, with maternal health training, Mama Kits, and essential care where it is needed most.

ABCCI Uganda is one of the organizations we've supported through 𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗗’𝘀 𝗥𝗟𝗢 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗟𝗢 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, with backing from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative. The program helps refugee led organizations in , II, , and respond to urgent challenges through practical and locally anchored solutions.

📩 Want to learn more or support their work?
Contact them directly at [email protected]

16/01/2025

Sign up for Class & Earn your Training Certificate!
We welcome all nationalities to join one of our transformative programs in Kampala.

👉 Come by YARID Main Office & Register today!
📍 Nsambya Gogonya, off Kabega Road, Kampala.
💡 All services are completely free

23/12/2024

✨ 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: 𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 ✨
We look back on an incredible year of impact. By providing quality education, vocational skills, and vital services through various projects, we've served over 10,000 members of both refugee and host communities in Uganda. We anticipate that our support has a far wider ripple effect, benefiting families and improving the lives of more than 30,000 people.

None of this would have been possible without YOU: our partners, donors, community leaders, and supporters. Your trust and collaboration have been the foundation of everything we’ve achieved. Thank you for being part of this journey. 🙏

A heartfelt thank you to all YARID staff & volunteers - in Kampala, Nakivale, Palabek, and Kyaka II Refugee Settlement - your passion and commitment continue to drive our mission forward.❤️

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝗼𝗳-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7276942258602401792

From all of us at YARID, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!🎉🎄

We resume work on January 6.

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative Refugee Led Organization Network Teaching at the Right Level Africa Oxfam in Uganda Office of the Prime Minister Kampala Capital City Authority - KCCA Education Cannot Wait Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation - Uganda PPDR Uganda UNHCR Uganda African Youth Action Network - AYAN Mastercard Foundation Global Refugee Led Network, Angels Refugee Support Foundation ARSF,

✨ 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: 𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 ✨ We look back on an incredible year of impact. By providing quality education, vocational…