About Unidos

A refugee-led organization turning challenges into opportunities since 2018.

Our Mission

Empowering Refugees to Become Change Makers

Unidos Social Innovation Center is a refugee-led community-based organization that engages with marginalized, at-risk youth located in Nakivale Refugee Settlement of Isingiro district, South West Uganda.

We aim to empower young refugees through appropriate training and teach them inclusive entrepreneurial skills that enable them to create their own jobs and opportunities.

Our goal is to transform refugees into change makers who will drive the community and make sure that everyone will be heard when it comes to creating a better tomorrow for all.

Refugees growing crops at Nakivale
Our Vision

Transforming Refugee Camps into Regenerative Communities

Our dream is to transform refugee camps into regenerative communities where every refugee can access clean water, abundant food, and quality education.

We support and empower youth and especially women refugees to unleash their full potential and fill the inequality gap while turning problems into opportunities.

"We believe that with the right support and training, refugees can become the solution to their own challenges."
Inspecting crops at Unidos
Our Story

How It All Began

Nakivale Refugee Settlement is home to 150,000 refugees from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Sudan. These are the refugees that have been most affected by poverty, climate change, war, and political oppression from their home countries.

In 2018, when food rations were drastically reduced, a group of refugees came together to find solutions. What started as a response to food insecurity has grown into a comprehensive movement addressing education, agriculture, women's empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.

Today, Unidos has trained nearly 3,000 refugees and now has a staff of 35 full- and part-time employees helping expand our mission. Through various activities in agriculture, soap making, and business training, we have touched the lives of over 5,000 community members.

Paulinho Muzaliwa - Founder of Unidos
Our Founder

Paulinho Muzaliwa

Paulinho Muzaliwa is the visionary founder of Unidos. He was forced to flee his home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017 when armed militia groups began fighting in the North Kivu region, finding safety at Nakivale settlement in Uganda.

With a diploma in business and administration from DRC, Paulinho received a scholarship at Idea4africa in 2018 where he learned Entrepreneurship, Business and Leadership. He then founded Unidos Social Innovation Center that same year.

Paulinho is a certified permaculture teacher (Permaculture Education Institute), a Warm Data host (Bateson International Institute), an Ambassador in SEEDS regenerative financial ecosystem, and a business and leadership facilitator.

Awards & Recognition

  • Earthshot Prize Nominee (2025) - Royal Foundation global environmental prize
  • Gene Dewey Refugee Award (2024) - USA for UNHCR
  • Ockenden International Prize (2024) - £25,000 for REGESOIL project
  • UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund (2024)
  • Lush Spring Prize - Permaculture Award (2023)
  • Social Impact Award (2022)
Our Team

Meet the People Behind Unidos

A dedicated team working together to create lasting change.

Paulinho Muzaliwa

Paulinho Muzaliwa

Founder & Director

Congolese refugee, certified permaculture teacher, and social entrepreneur leading Unidos since 2018.

Mariam

Mariam

Program Manager - Women's Projects

Originally from DR Congo, Mariam leads women's empowerment initiatives including soap making programs.

George

George

Digital Product Designer

BSc in Information Technology, ensures all media assets remain consistent with Unidos's mission.

Gino

Gino

Web & Graphic Design

Background in permaculture and sustainable design, supporting Unidos's digital presence.

Munguzo

Munguzo

Communications & Media Lead

Trained in Permaculture, Warm Data, and web development at Unidos and Refactory Uganda.

Kwema Rose

Kwema Rose

Team Member

Congolese team member contributing to Unidos's community programs.

Our Partners

Organizations That Support Us

We are grateful for the partnerships that make our work possible.

UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency provides essential support and recognition for refugee-led initiatives in Nakivale Settlement, helping us reach more community members.

Lush Spring Prize

Award-winning recognition for our permaculture work, providing funding and visibility that has helped expand our regenerative agriculture programs.

Re-Alliance

Supporting refugee communities worldwide through capacity building and knowledge sharing in permaculture and sustainable development.

SEEDS

A regenerative financial ecosystem that supports grassroots initiatives and sustainable community development projects.

Open Up

Providing resources and connections to help refugee-led organizations grow their impact and reach more community members.

Bonzi

A Web3 community supporting Unidos through technology, community building, and digital innovation. Bonzi helps with website development, digital presence, and connecting Unidos to the global regenerative finance ecosystem.

Defiants

A Web3 community that partnered with Unidos to build a digital education center, introducing web3 skills training and connecting refugees to the global digital economy.

Ethervista

A decentralized exchange supporting regenerative projects. Ethervista provides infrastructure for sustainable token economics and community-driven financial tools.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Your support helps us expand our programs and reach more refugees in need.

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