Kampala to host inaugural refugee exhibition

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The Government of Uganda has announced the launch of the first-ever Refugee and Host Communities Exhibition, set to take place from December 12-14, 2025 at MOTIV Grounds in Bugolobi, Kampala city.

The trade ministry (MTIC), working in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and development partners, including UNHCR, will host the event under the theme: Exhibiting Innovation and Value-Added Products by Refugees and Host Communities for Business Opportunities and Policy Reforms.

Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on December 9, 2025, trade ministry commissioner for internal trade Zackey Kalega said the exhibition marks an important step in demonstrating the creativity, resilience and economic potential of refugees and the communities that host them.

Kalega said the initiative is part of the Government’s wider plan to promote self-reliance by equipping refugees and host communities with business development skills, access to financing and opportunities to showcase their products to a broader market.

Kalega explained that the exhibition will also act as a platform for policy dialogue, bringing together government ministries, the private sector, civil society, and entrepreneurs to discuss reforms needed to build a more inclusive business environment.

He stressed that Section 29(e)(iv) of the Refugee Act 2006 already gives refugees the legal right to engage in agriculture, industry, handicrafts and commerce, and that the government is committed to maximising this potential through trade, value addition and investment facilitation.

He added that this approach supports Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, which prioritises the agriculture, tourism and mineral beneficiation sectors as engines of national growth.

The Commissioner noted that Uganda pledged at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum in Geneva to create over 300,000 sustainable economic opportunities for refugees and host communities.

According to him, the upcoming exhibition is part of the strategies designed to fulfil this commitment, with ongoing interventions already taking place in settlements such as Rhino Camp, Kyangwali and Nakivale.

Kalega said that by the end of the three-day exhibition, the government expects participants to have gained essential knowledge on trade and investment procedures, including business registration and tax obligations. The event will also allow refugees to take part in policy discussions, explore new markets, meet buyers, and connect with institutions offering preferential financing opportunities.

He encouraged members of the public to attend the exhibition, saying it will be an opportunity to witness innovation, discover high-quality products made within refugee settlements and engage in meaningful business transactions that strengthen both community and national economies.

Statistics

Uganda continues to be one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries and the biggest in Africa, sheltering between 1.7 and 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers. Most have fled conflicts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, while others originate from Somalia, Burundi, Eritrea and other nations. Women and children form a significant share of this population, underscoring the urgency of programs that support livelihoods and long-term stability.

Kalega reaffirmed the government’s commitment to worng with development partners, the private sector and the public to promote economic inclusion and strengthen Uganda’s reputation as a global leader in progressive refugee policy.