KAMPALA, May 6 (AGCNewsNet) – The first group of skilled refugees hosted in Uganda have arrived in Italy to begin new lives and careers in the country’s technology sector, marking a milestone for a new refugee labour mobility initiative led by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

The initiative, ReadyForIT – Labour Pathways for Refugees, prepared 21 refugees for job interviews and matched them with Italian employers. So far, 16 of the participants have secured jobs with leading companies in Naples and Turin.

The refugees – originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan – had advanced professional experience but limited access to employment opportunities in Uganda due to their refugee status. Some lived in remote settlements, others in Kampala, but all struggled to restart their careers.

“ITC equipped me with programming skills in Java and SQL and also prepared me ahead of my job interview as a refugee in Uganda. Now, I have resumed a new role as a tech professional at Accenture in Italy. My self-esteem and financial capacity have been transformed,” said Alpha Ntihinduka, one of the successful candidates.

In Uganda, the refugees underwent intensive training facilitated by ITC and its partners. The curriculum included programming languages like Java and SQL, workplace readiness, civic and language integration courses, and labour safety training.

Refactory Uganda, a local tech academy, partnered with ITC to provide technical interview preparation and on-site coaching. DevelHope, an Italian tech company, also contributed to training delivery, bringing international standards to local capacity building.

Eight of the new hires are now working with Accenture in Naples. Others have joined companies including Aubay, Btinkeeng, Dedagroup (Deda), OverIT, Reale ITES, and ValueTech.

This marks the first official labour mobility pathway under the Labour Corridors for Refugees initiative – a broader programme that selects, trains, and supports qualified refugees to legally access employment in countries like Italy. The programme not only provides displaced persons with a path to economic independence but also supplies skilled workers to industries facing talent shortages.

The initiative also strengthens local ecosystems. Refactory, now with international exposure, is launching a new project to train over 9,000 women – including refugees – in IT skills by 2027, aiming to create 6,000 jobs across Uganda.

According to ITC, the success of this pilot illustrates how collaborative partnerships – involving local service providers, international organizations, national governments, and private sector players – can deliver sustainable, dignity-restoring solutions for displaced populations.

Uganda, currently home to around 1.8 million refugees, hosts the largest refugee population in Africa.

Source: APO

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