INKOMOKO celebrates World Refugee Day in Juba Photo credit: Wol Mapal/Eye Radio

As the world prepares to mark World Refugee Day on June 20, business development organization INKOMOKO is shifting the conversation around displacement from dependence on humanitarian aid to economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.

On Thursday, INKOMOKO brought together refugees, entrepreneurs, government officials, development partners and members of the public in Juba to celebrate the resilience, innovation and contributions of refugees living in South Sudan.

The event, held as part of the organization’s World Refugee Day commemorations, showcased businesses established and expanded through INKOMOKO’s loan and investment programs, while highlighting stories of refugees who have transformed their lives through entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the event, INKOMOKO’s Managing Director, William Ngabonaziza said the organization wants society to rethink how it views refugees and recognize them as contributors to economic growth rather than passive recipients of aid.

“So why are we here today? We are here to commemorate refugees ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20,” the Managing Director said.

“We want everyone leaving here today to have a new concept of how we think about refugees. Many people in this room have experienced displacement at some point in their lives. We want people to recognize that refugees can do business, pay taxes, create jobs, build communities and educate their children if they are given the opportunity.”

Ngabonaziza said the organization’s campaign seeks to challenge the perception that refugees are always dependent on assistance.

“They are not here to beg. They are not here to be seen only as people who must always be given support. Give them a chance, and they will transform their own lives and contribute to society,” he added.

Founded in Rwanda in 2012, and expanded to South Sudan in 2023, INKOMOKO is a social enterprise that supports refugee and host-community entrepreneurs through business training, mentorship, access to finance and investment opportunities. The organization operates across several African countries, including South Sudan, where it works with refugees, returnees and local entrepreneurs to strengthen small businesses and create jobs.

Among those sharing their success stories was Rosemary, a South Sudanese entrepreneur who said INKOMOKO helped transform her small survival business into a growing enterprise.

“It wasn’t easy. It was a struggle,” she recalled.

“When I heard about INKOMOKO, I applied to become a beneficiary. I received training and financial support through a loan that helped me expand my business beyond what I ever imagined.”

Rosemary said before joining the program, she operated from a small container in Juba’s Custom Market and focused mainly on meeting her family’s daily needs.

“I was doing business just for survival. I was thinking about how to get bread for my children today and then worry about tomorrow,” she said.

“But when INKOMOKO came into my life, everything changed. I moved from the crowded corners of Custom Market and established my own office near the Seven Days Roundabout opposite UNOCHA. I can now be easily located, and this achievement is because of the support I received from INKOMOKO.”

For Zubeida, a Sudanese refugee and entrepreneur, the organization’s support came during one of the most difficult periods of her business journey.

She said she was forced to close her business for seven months, but INKOMOKO’s business advisors continued to visit and support her despite the closure.

“During those seven months, they did not abandon me. They kept coming, talking to me and understanding my challenges,” she said.

By the end of 2024, Zubeida said she was able to reopen her business after receiving investment support from the organization.

“With that investment, I reopened my business in Gorom. Today I have another business in Juba,” she said.

She now employs workers in both locations and credits the organization for helping her become financially independent.

“There is a saying that you cannot keep giving someone fish every day. One day you must give them a fishing net,” she said.

“That is exactly what INKOMOKO did for me. They did not just give me money. They provided training and investment that enabled me to grow my business and generate income for myself.”

Zubeida also emphasized the importance of determination and self-belief.

“Even if someone gives you a lot of money, without courage you cannot grow your business. Courage is very important.”

Another beneficiary, Ibrahim, said INKOMOKO’s support enabled him to grow from a small retailer into a wholesaler serving refugee communities in Gorom.

According to Ibrahim, he first received an investment of 1.5 million South Sudanese Pounds, which helped him expand his shop and increase his stock.

“With that support, I was able to open another branch and separate my business from my brother’s,” he explained.

After successfully repaying the first loan, Ibrahim received a second round of financing and later qualified for a third investment cycle worth 40 million South Sudanese Pounds.

The entrepreneur said the organization’s partnership with Equity Bank opened even more opportunities for him and the refugee community.

“Through INKOMOKO, I was trained and became an Equity Bank agent in Gorom,” he said.

“Many refugees do not need to travel all the way to Juba anymore. They can access banking services and make repayments through me. This saves them money and reduces security risks associated with travel.”

Today, Ibrahim says he operates as a wholesaler and serves not only his own business interests but also supports fellow entrepreneurs in his community.

The event featured cultural exhibitions, networking sessions and displays of businesses supported through INKOMOKO’s loan and investment programs.

Participants said the gathering demonstrated the growing role refugees are playing in South Sudan’s economy and underscored the importance of investing in refugee entrepreneurship as a pathway toward self-reliance and sustainable development.

As World Refugee Day approaches, INKOMOKO says its message is simple: refugees are not merely beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance but entrepreneurs, employers and contributors capable of transforming communities when given access to opportunity.