Loss of sh25.5b US grant bites refugee education

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The US withdrawal of over shillings 25.5 billion grant to Finn Church Aid's refugee education funds has significant implications for the education of refugees in Uganda.

Speaking at the ITEME programme graduation ceremony on February 27, 2025, at FCA offices in Muyenga parish, Makindye division in Kampala city, country director Wycliffe Nsheka disclosed that the termination of awards comes at a time of refugee influx due to conflict between the M23 rebel group and the DR Congo (DRC) government.

“FCA received notification last night (26 February 2025) that all three of our programmes funded by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) awards in Uganda and Kenya have been terminated with immediate effect,” he said.

Finn Church Aid Uganda Country Director Wycliffe Nsheka outlining how the refugee education sector was affected by USAID withdrawal (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“Specifically, 19,286 secondary school learners and 127,447 primary school learners in Uganda have now lost access to enhanced education provision across all refugee settlements in the country,” he said.

According to Nsheka, FCA can no longer secure, protect and improve the well-being of these children as well as the wider refugee and host communities due to limited capacity to provide lifesaving education and livelihood support to these populations.

“The entire communities of refugee camps now face immediate safeguarding risk of child protection, teenage pregnancies, forced marriages, suicides and some shall be at a great risk of dropping out of schools with this decision,” he said.

FCA has been working in Uganda since 2014, supporting quality education, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding initiatives, particularly in refugee settlements.

The FCA's education programmes have focused on providing scholarships to refugees, enabling them to pursue higher education. For instance, in 2021, FCA provided 20 scholarships to refugees, with funding from the National Association of Partners. These scholarships covered tuition fees, accommodation, and upkeep, as well as providing computers, laptops, and internet access.

“With the US suspension of funds amounting to over shillings 25.5 billion for the FCA Uganda programme, 180,544 refugee students will miss out on education,” regretted Nsheka.

Kepler refugees graduate in ICT, vocational skills

Over 50 refugee students from Rwanda, DRC, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia successfully completed the ITEME (Bridge in Kinyarwanda dialect) programme, an instructional programme designed to support secondary school graduates in their transition to tertiary and career paths education.

Kepler Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nathalie Munyampenda and graduates at FCA cutting graduation cake during the ceremony (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

According to Kepler chief executive officer (CEO) Nathalie Munyampenda, the training focused on English proficiency, mathematics, digital literacy and professional competencies.

“A total of 21 students from these have transitioned into various opportunities including university placements, short-term training programmes and engaged in vocational skills training for easy employability,” Munyampenda said.

"The programme, which started in refugee camps in Rwanda, reached Ethiopia and the programme has demonstrated impressive completion rates with 51 students from the first cohort in Kampala completing their training among which 73% are female and 71% refugees," she added.

ITEME is a preparatory programme of Kepler offered in Uganda in collaboration with FCA to enable students to gain the necessary tools and skills to pursue higher education and employment opportunities.

Graduate refugees speak out

Caroline Dushimimana and Rosine Umuhire who were excited about completing their studies expressed the need for peace in the East African Community (EAC) which they attributed to their success.

“Uganda has had peace for many years and we escaped the war in DRC in 2019 when we were in S3. Some of our relatives escaped to Rwanda camps but we have been living in Kyaka II Refugee camp in Kyegegwa district and are unable to connect,” Dushimimana said.

"My twin sister and I have worked hard to succeed in this training to be able to enter the business world and change our refugee status to a decent and dignified life after education," Umuhire added.

Zoe Bakitha Peace received the outstanding student award and asked fellow graduates to live a dignified life with confidence.