For many young refugees living in Kakoni Zone of Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Kyegegwa District, idleness had become an everyday reality. Limited opportunities to earn a living left many spending long hours with little to do, exposing them to stress, loneliness, substance abuse and other negative influences.
Rather than accept those circumstances, a group of determined young refugees decided to create opportunities for themselves. In 2023, they established Umoja Drama Group, an initiative that has grown from a youth theatre troupe into a savings association, a farming cooperative, and a peace-building platform.
Today, the group has 20 members who use drama to educate communities about pressing social issues while generating income and fostering a sense of purpose among young people. The initiative is improving livelihoods while strengthening relationships within the refugee settlement and the surrounding host communities.
Moise Kaulwa, one of the founders and director of Umoja Drama Group, says the initiative was born out of a desire to keep young refugees productively engaged while nurturing their talents.
Initially, the group focused solely on drama. As it grew, members diversified into a savings scheme, vegetable farming and piggery to improve their economic well-being.
Kaulwa says the group performs plays addressing gender-based violence, peacebuilding, crime prevention, health awareness and social cohesion. Beyond educating communities, the performances have become an important source of income, with members earning money that helps them support their families and meet daily household needs.
To strengthen members financially, Umoja Drama Group also established a savings scheme. Members contribute money every two weeks, creating a revolving fund that allows them to borrow during emergencies at affordable interest rates instead of relying on costly moneylenders.
The savings initiative has enabled the group to invest in piggery and vegetable farming, where members grow crops including cabbage, onions, beetroot and spinach to supplement their incomes.
Jean Pierre Lounjiringa, a member of the group, says Umoja Drama Group emerged at a critical time when many refugees were struggling to recover from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced employment opportunities and humanitarian activities within the settlement.
He explains that without meaningful engagement, many young refugees were at risk of joining negative peer groups, abusing drugs and alcohol, or becoming involved in crime and violence. The drama group, however, offered a positive alternative by giving them purpose while creating opportunities to educate fellow refugees and earn a living.
Lounjiringa adds that the group’s growing reputation has attracted partnerships with organisations that regularly invite members to perform during community events, providing both visibility and additional income.
For Elizabeth Esteli, Umoja Drama Group has provided more than economic opportunities. It has also become a source of emotional support. She says many refugees continue to live with the emotional trauma of displacement, often struggling with stress, loneliness and uncertainty about the future. Before joining the group, many members felt isolated.
Today, she says, Umoja Drama Group has become a close-knit support system where members encourage one another, share experiences and find comfort in working together.
According to Esteli, the group’s activities have also improved relationships between refugees and host communities. Through drama performances and community engagements, refugees and nationals have built trust, making it easier to access land for cultivation, work together on farms and peacefully share resources that previously sparked conflict.
Despite its success, Umoja Drama Group continues to face several challenges. Members say they lack essential performance equipment, including costumes, speakers and microphones. They also report that some organisations delay or fail to pay them after performances, affecting the group’s operations and members’ incomes.
The savings scheme has also experienced setbacks, with some members failing to repay loans on time. This has slowed the group’s ability to extend credit to others and expand its income-generating activities.
Joseph Bakahera, the Assistant Project Officer at Joint Effort to Save Environment (JESE), a local non-governmental organisation working in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, says Umoja Drama Group has partnered with the organisation under the Men and Women Together project, which promotes gender transformation, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities.
He explains that the project was introduced in response to recurring conflicts driven by poverty, competition over scarce resources and mistrust between the two communities. Drama was selected as a community education tool because it enables people to discuss sensitive issues in a relatable, engaging and non-confrontational way.
Bakahera says initiatives such as Umoja Drama Group demonstrate that keeping young people engaged in productive activities, including drama, savings and farming, not only improves their livelihoods but also enhances mental wellbeing, reduces idleness and strengthens peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
