When Mugisha Kevin completed her A-Level education, she faced a challenge familiar to many refugee youths across Uganda: what comes next?
Having fled the Democratic Republic of Congo and grown up in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Kevin had always been passionate about technology. She excelled in school and dreamed of building a career in ICT, but like many young refugees, limited access to opportunities and resources threatened to stand in the way of her ambitions.
That changed when she learned about scholarship opportunities offered through the 10X Digital Economy Program. Through the program, Kevin received a scholarship to study at Refactory, where she enrolled in the Foundations of Software Development course before progressing to a Certificate in Software Engineering. The opportunity equipped her with practical digital skills, strengthened her confidence, and opened new pathways for her future.
Kevin’s story reflects the transformative impact that access to digital skills and opportunities can have for refugee women and youth.
Every year on 20 June, the world commemorates World Refugee Day, a day dedicated to recognising the courage, resilience, and contributions of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, violence, and human rights violations. The 2026 theme, “Until Everyone Is Safe,” reminds us that true safety extends beyond shelter and protection to include access to opportunities that enable people to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
Globally, more than 41 million refugees were living in displacement by the end of 2025. Uganda remains one of the world’s leading refugee-hosting countries and the largest in Africa, providing refuge to nearly two million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and other neighboring countries.
While Uganda’s progressive refugee policies allow refugees to work, move freely, and access essential services, many refugee women continue to face barriers to economic participation. Limited access to digital skills, technology, markets, and financing often restricts their ability to secure meaningful employment or grow sustainable businesses.
Through the 10X Digital Economy Program, refugee women and women from host communities are gaining access to digital skills training, entrepreneurship support, business digitalization tools, and pathways to employment and self-employment. By equipping women with the knowledge and resources needed to participate in the digital economy, the program is helping unlock opportunities that were previously out of reach.
For Kevin, the program provided a pathway into the technology sector through specialized digital skills training. For Sarafina Tusenge, a refugee entrepreneur in Isingiro District, it strengthened her ability to run and grow her poultry business. Through training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and marketing, Sarafina learned how to improve record-keeping, manage customer relationships, and plan for business growth. Today, she approaches her enterprise with greater confidence and a clearer vision for its future.
These stories demonstrate that refugees are not defined by displacement. They are innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders whose potential can flourish when given access to the right opportunities.
As we commemorate World Refugee Day 2026, we celebrate the resilience and determination of refugees who continue to rebuild their lives despite immense challenges. Their journeys also highlight the importance of investing in digital inclusion and economic empowerment as pathways to self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
The 10X Digital Economy Program remains committed to ensuring that refugee women have access to the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and shape their own futures.
Until Everyone Is Safe, Digital Inclusion is for Everyone.
