ARTVISM AS A BRIDGE TO INCLUSION, HOW LOVE FOR IMMIGRANTS IS EMPOWERING IMMIGRANTS IN UGANDA.

Since 2022, Love for Immigrants has been promoting and empowering immigrants in Uganda  by providing a platform that helps them connect with their communities through an art showcase, storytelling, and other events made possible by our past collaborators, The Refugee Law Project, UNHCR among others. Uganda, being home to nearly 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers, making it the largest immigrant and refugee-hosting nation in Africa, is one of our key considerations.

We understand that the barriers immigrants face upon arrival in their new home countries are compounded by hate speech, abuse, or threats. Storytelling can play a significant role in humanizing people in the collective imagination, ensuring that systemic action prioritizes human rights when countries interact with immigrants and refugees.

The challenges that immigrants face worldwide vary from language access to financial and legal issues, among others. Yet, immigrants face an additional barrier of striving for belonging while maintaining a positive self-perception amidst messages that say, “You are not welcome.” Although we are based in the United States, we recognize this as a global phenomenon. Through our team in Uganda, we have been organizing a series of activities to support immigrants in connecting with their communities.

This month, in July 2025, our team supported young immigrants around Kampala, including those living with disabilities. 

“One participant, a male immigrant from Congo living with a hearing impairment, expressed his gratitude: “Thank you so much, Love for Immigrants, for connecting us to this wonderful event. I’m so happy I was able to meet fellow youth. This is a rare opportunity for us to attend public events and platforms designed to empower the community due to lack of information access.”

At Love for Immigrants, we take pride in promoting positive narration and shifting the narrative around migration and inclusion of immigrants with disabilities. Watch our short video about World Culture Day participation from Uganda.