Exploring Refugees Entrepreneurial Support Organisations in Uganda

Drawing on current development practice and literature on Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESO), such as accelerators, incubators and labs, this chapter explores how refugees in Uganda are supported through entrepreneurial approaches. Following an exploratory method, interviews were conducted with proprietors and managers of ESO in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The findings show that whilst the majority of these organisations purport to follow an innovation discourse, in reality they support refugees through a mixture of inclusion, resilience and innovation-led approaches. Inclusion-led approaches focus on basic language skills, establishing peer relationships and access to survival essentials. Resilience-led approaches nurture livelihood skills, building community ties and access to seed-corn grants. Innovation-led approaches develop entrepreneurial skills, establishing extra-local connectivity and access to micro-finance. The chapter highlights the critical importance of inclusion and resilience-led approaches in developing supportive ESO for refugees.