Kyaka II Refugees Embrace Savings Culture To Build Sustainable Livelihoods

What the report says

Refugees and host community members in Kyaka II and Rwamwanja are expanding savings groups, small businesses and joint investment efforts as part of a push to improve incomes and reduce reliance on outside support. The work is being carried out under the From Savings to Sustainability (S2S) Project, which ADRA Uganda implements with ADRA Denmark. According to Nile Post, the initiative is focused on helping community members move from informal savings practices toward more organized and durable livelihood structures.

The project recently convened a one-day peer exchange that brought together local leaders, savings group representatives, government officials and development partners. Participants discussed how to strengthen Village Savings and Loan Associations, create federations and possibly develop cooperatives that could serve both refugees and Ugandan hosts. Kyaka II assistant commandant Christopher Angualia welcomed the market connections created through the programme, while urging groups to formalize their operations and manage loans carefully to avoid defaults.

The article says agriculture and livestock remain central to these livelihoods, with dairy goats supporting both income generation and nutrition. It also notes that milk from the goats is helping supply patients at an ADRA hospital, while manure is being used to improve crop production. Project participants said the savings culture is also improving trust, financial discipline and record-keeping, which matters because these settlements host large populations that depend heavily on local economic cooperation and long-term self-reliance.