Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement
+124 million
forcibly displaced people worldwide
133,700+
refugees currently live in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, nearly double the 72,000 recorded in 2021, largely due to the conflict in Sudan.
90%
of residents in the settlement are vulnerable women, youth, and children.
The Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Bweyale, mid-West Uganda, is a gazetted government land for refugee resettlement that provides shelter, arable plots, and support to over 100,000 refugees from South Sudan and Sudan, as well as Kenya, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, Sudan. WPDI has been active in the settlement since 2017, notably through a Community Learning Center that has become one of the central places in the area. The impact of our programs extends to the entire settlement and surrounding areas, benefiting nearly 50,000 refugees and host community members annually through peacebuilding and educational activities, sensitization including radio talk shows, and advocacy campaigns.
Our Community Learning Center has become a cornerstone of transformation and resilience, serving as a hub for both refugee and host communities. Equipped with Internet access, library resources, and training opportunities in Conflict Resolution Education, Information & Communications Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Arts & Crafts, the center provides a safe and empowering space for learning and growth.
To meet the specific needs of displaced populations, the center also offers Trauma Healing and Sexual & Reproductive Health programs that provide spaces for recovery, reflection, and renewed hope after conflict and displacement. Dedicated initiatives for vulnerable refugee women; including young mothers who have lost everything to conflict, have further strengthened livelihoods by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and supporting the creation of cooperative businesses.
Through the center, our Peace Through Sports and Cinema for Peace initiatives have combined recreation and education to foster social cohesion, promote mutual respect among diverse tribes, and help children and youth heal from trauma.
Above all, the Community Learning Center stands as a space of peace and possibility, where participants consistently share how deeply WPDI’s programs have transformed their lives and strengthened their sense of community.
Surveys we ran among former trainees at our CLC revealed that
- 100% of 506 former trainees said they had applied their peacebuilding and mediation skills in their daily or professional lives: 40.2% pursued further studies, 21.9% created their own business, and 19.7% increased their income.
- 96% of 635 vocational trainees surveyed in 2024 reported using their skills in their personal or professional lives.
- 88% of 221 ICT trainees reported using their digital skills in their daily or professional life.
View our Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement 2024 report
A snapshot of WPDI’s impact in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in 2024:
44,500+
individuals participated in programs through the Community Learning Center
16,300+
individuals were reached through the efforts of 347 Youth Peacemakers
10,800+
students, teachers, and parents took part in peace education activities across 41 schools
11
community dialogues engaged 2,538 participants across refugee and host communities
36,000+
participants took part in Peace Through Sports competitions and tournaments in 2024
79%
of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) supported by WPDI remained active two years after their creation
60
community leaders were trained to facilitate dialogues and mediation processes
10,800+
students, teachers, and parents took part in peace education activities across 41 schools
900+
trainees completed vocational courses in ICT, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Arts & Crafts