Refugees rarely get the business opportunities to give back to their community on this scale. Often facing huge barriers to earning, annual income for a refugee in Uganda might be as little as $300 per household, including humanitarian aid.

This entrepreneur is driving entrepreneurial spirit with diverse thinking and inclusive hiring, for a community in extreme need. From humble beginnings, he’s set up, developed, and scaled a business idea that can feed a community for years, and he’s hungry for more.

Don’t just read about business opportunities, make a difference

Meet Benard, a Ugandan entrepreneur who’s making a huge difference in his community thanks to his entrepreneurial vision, backed by Not For Sale support and donations.

Benard has built his business after winning 4.5 million Ugandan Shillings (UGX) in Not For Sale’s Entrepreneurship Challenge – four times what many refugees receive in a year.

Following a competitive application process, the challenge brings refugees from many settlements to pitch their business and receive funding that changes lives.

Realising that entrepreneurial dreams come true

From Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Benard’s successful business pitch saw him launching a piggery project to increase household income.

Not For Sale helped Benard buy around 20 pigs. He’d take a boar and a sow to a family – members of his refugee settlement – at no cost for them to care for and raise.

When they had piglets, they’d keep some and he’d take some. All backed by legal contracts, this ensured that the families had meat or could sell their livestock, while it also allowed Benard’s business to keep growing.

Business opportunities for expansion and supporting more refugees

Benard’s project started with five families and five pigs but soon grew to 17 families and over 25 pigs. He entered the challenge to expand his business, with high hopes to support more refugees displaced by war or natural calamities.

Another goal for Benard is for his businesses to combat the high rates of illiteracy within the community, by giving families the resources to purchase school materials for their children.

What’s more? He’s now grown that venture and diversified to a restaurant and catering business that provides food to many organizations including:

• The Association of Volunteers in International Service (AVSI)
• CIYOTA (read more about them at the Entrepreneurship Challenge page)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Alight (formerly the American Refugee Committee)
• Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

Benard’s business and its future growth

In a world seemingly still stumped by ideas of diversity and inclusion among boards and businesses, there are none of those challenges here. What’s more is that, with his aspirational leadership vision, Benard is also proving to have inspirational plans for the future, too.

“I employ three young mothers, four seniors, four students who have just finished exams, and three family members,” he explains.

“I’m also now doing some cultivation. We’re planting beans that I then cook in the restaurant. I’m planning to have a dry food business next year – beans, maize, groundnuts, and rice – so that I can build additional revenue streams.”

As with any entrepreneur, Benard’s brain doesn’t stop. He’s always thinking of the next move that can bring the biggest benefits to as many people as possible.

“Next year I’d like to start a scholarship, studying entrepreneurship and finance,” he continues.

“The knowledge will help me build my business, develop mentorship skills to train more of the youth, and change society for the better.”

• Discover more about the Not For Sale Entrepreneurship Challenge and how you can help the next generation of business development in East Africa.