Koboko Municipality has secured a grant from the Mayors Migration Council’s (MMC) Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees (GCF) to boost economic inclusion and climate resilience. Koboko Municipality is among six global cities selected under the $3 million fund aimed at supporting local, migrant-led economic solutions.
Through the grant, Koboko will implement a “Waste to Wealth” initiative designed to create green jobs for women and youth while promoting a circular economy. The project focuses on producing alternative energy and recycled products through briquette making, composting, and clean-energy kiosks.
Mayor Wilson Sanya said the initiative will help turn environmental challenges into income-generating opportunities for vulnerable groups.
“Thanks to the support of the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, Koboko Municipality will accelerate climate resilience while opening new economic opportunities,” he said. “Through our Waste to Wealth project, we will turn environmental challenges into livelihoods for young people, women, and displacement-affected communities.”
The mayor emphasized that cities like Koboko are at the forefront of addressing both migration and climate crises.
“This initiative shows that mayors and cities must be at the center of solutions to both migration and climate challenges—not on the sidelines,” he added.
Other grantee cities include Boston (United States), Kanifing (The Gambia), Manta (Ecuador), Quezon City (Philippines), and Turin (Italy). Each city will receive up to $500,000 over two years, plus technical assistance from MMC and partners such as C40 Cities, UN-Habitat, IOM, UNHCR, and UCLG.
MMC Executive Director Vittoria Zanuso said mayors are driving inclusive solutions that make migration an advantage rather than a challenge.
“Mayors continue to deliver solutions that include in their local economies those who are often overlooked. We’re proud to help cities turn migration into a competitive advantage—unlocking prosperity not just for newcomers, but for all,” she said.
The GCF builds on MMC’s 2024 Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, which pledged to invest in inclusive urban economies for migrants and refugees. The Fund has so far mobilized $28 million, benefiting over 100,000 migrants, refugees, and host community members in 26 cities worldwide. MMC aims to raise $50 million by 2030 to scale up its impact.
Koboko’s recognition underscores Uganda’s growing role in advancing sustainable, inclusive solutions for migrant and host communities. The grant highlights how innovation at the local level can transform global challenges like waste management, climate change, and displacement into engines of shared prosperity.
