Initiative helps Ugandan returnee migrants rebuild their lives
Solomon Kayiwa Mugambe, the executive director of Wazesha Impact, said that while many leave Uganda in search of better opportunities, some return with little to show for their hard work.
Executive director Wezesha Impact Solomon Kayiwa Mugamba speaking to graduands during Wezesha Impact migrants returnees graduation ceremony held at Nsambya Sharing hall on March 28. (Photos by Alfred Ochwo)
By Richard Ategeka
Journalists @New Vision
________________
For many Ugandans seeking opportunities abroad, the dream of financial success can quickly turn into a nightmare. Stories of mistreatment, broken promises, and returning home empty-handed are all too common.
But what if there was a way to make migration safer and ensure that those who return do so with skills, resources, and hope?
That’s the mission of the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) initiative, a programme aimed at changing the lives of returnee migrants by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy to rebuild their future.
At a graduation ceremony held last Friday (March 28) at Sharing Youth Centre in Nsambya, Kampala, 400 returnees celebrated a new beginning — one shaped by knowledge, resilience, and opportunity.
Solomon Kayiwa Mugambe, the executive director of Wazesha Impact, said that while many leave Uganda in search of better opportunities, some return with little to show for their hard work.
“Some come back with savings but don’t know how to invest wisely. Others return empty-handed, struggling to start over,” he said.
Stories of transformation
Andrew Mukulu, Uganda’s focal person for the International Labour Organization (ILO), warned that irregular migration often leads to heartbreaking consequences, including exploitation, financial loss, and shattered dreams.
L-R: Eva Nantongo, Mildred Mwebaza, Fazil Mayanja and Nives Wanyama speak on panel discussion of challenges faced as migrant workers while they are abroad and the benefits, they have achieved from Wezesha Impact after return. This was during graduation ceremony held at the Sambya sharing hall on March 28. 
“Through bilateral agreements and skills development, we work to improve conditions for migrant workers before, during, and after their employment abroad,” he said, urging young Ugandans to use legal migration channels.
Nassozi Bushira, a beneficiary of the BRMM initiative, considers the training as a game changer. Like many returnees, she had once struggled with managing her hard-earned money.
“I had money but didn’t know how to grow it. This training taught me about marketing, licensing, and business management. Now, I am successfully making and selling petroleum jelly,” she said happily.
Joseph Ssekitoloke Blessing shared a similar experience.
“When we work abroad, we send money home, but sometimes we return and find nothing. This programme has taught us the importance of financial planning and investing wisely,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayanja Faziir, another graduate, has decided to ditch migration altogether and focus on fish farming instead.
“This training gave me confidence. I no longer see migration as my only option. I can build something for myself here,” he said.
Sustainable future
The BRMM programme, run by ILO in partnership with Wazesha Impact, is based on the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) curriculum.
It teaches returnees essential skills such as opportunity identification, business planning, and enterprise development.
With a goal of helping at least 70 percent of trainees establish sustainable livelihoods, the initiative is proving that migration does not have to end in loss — if done the right way.
For those who once saw their dreams slip away, programmes like this offer a second chance — not just to survive, but to thrive.