When Saba was forced to abandon her life in the city and flee to a rural refugee camp, the adjustment was tough. But her determination was undimmed. Seven years on, she is a successful business owner in her new homeland.
Saba Ayaliw: refugee, entrepreneur, inspiration
In 2017, Saba Ayaliw fled the escalating violence in South Sudan, clutching the hands of her two young children as they crossed the border into Uganda.
The move brought a whirlwind of challenges. Upon her arrival at the Ocea Reception Centre in Rhino Camp, Saba was registered as a refugee and allocated a small plot of land in the rural settlement of Ofua II Village. For a woman accustomed to the hustle of urban life and running a business, settling into the camp was a rude awakening.
“It was difficult for me and my children to sleep in a mud house, on a bare floor with only a blanket,” she recalls. The constant fear of bugs and reptiles creeping into their home added to the anxiety of the family’s new reality.
Difficult first steps
As Saba navigated her new life, one thing became clear: she was not content with relying solely on humanitarian aid. Her entrepreneurial spirit, nurtured in her homeland, drove her to explore ways to rebuild her life.
“I had learnt that some refugees were living in Arua City,” she says. “I was attracted by the opportunities in the urban areas.” Saba made the bold decision to move to Arua in the hope that the city would offer her the chance to regain her footing.
But her first steps in Arua were far from smooth. Although she was able to find a place to live, the house required extensive renovations. Saba used her savings to repair it, only to be evicted by the landlord. “I only recovered 63 per cent of the money I spent on renovations,” she shares, a note of frustration lingering in her voice.
Yet, Saba was undeterred. Using the little money she had recouped, she opened a boutique. Not long after, her relentless work ethic enabled her to open a second venture: Queen Saba Hotel, a restaurant and hotel in the heart of Arua City.
Uganda is a world leader in hosting refugees and asylum seekers with over 1.7 million, mainly from Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2017, Saba Ayaliw fled the escalating violence in South Sudan, clutching the hands of her two young children as they crossed the border into Uganda.
The move brought a whirlwind of challenges. Upon her arrival at the Ocea Reception Centre in Rhino Camp, Saba was registered as a refugee and allocated a small plot of land in the rural settlement of Ofua II Village. For a woman accustomed to the hustle of urban life and running a business, settling into the camp was a rude awakening.
“It was difficult for me and my children to sleep in a mud house, on a bare floor with only a blanket,” she recalls. The constant fear of bugs and reptiles creeping into their home added to the anxiety of the family’s new reality.
Difficult first steps
As Saba navigated her new life, one thing became clear: she was not content with relying solely on humanitarian aid. Her entrepreneurial spirit, nurtured in her homeland, drove her to explore ways to rebuild her life.
“I had learnt that some refugees were living in Arua City,” she says. “I was attracted by the opportunities in the urban areas.” Saba made the bold decision to move to Arua in the hope that the city would offer her the chance to regain her footing.
But her first steps in Arua were far from smooth. Although she was able to find a place to live, the house required extensive renovations. Saba used her savings to repair it, only to be evicted by the landlord. “I only recovered 63 per cent of the money I spent on renovations,” she shares, a note of frustration lingering in her voice.
Yet, Saba was undeterred. Using the little money she had recouped, she opened a boutique. Not long after, her relentless work ethic enabled her to open a second venture: Queen Saba Hotel, a restaurant and hotel in the heart of Arua City.
A legal quagmire
By 2019, Saba had two businesses under her belt. But the hotel presented challenges.
“It was very difficult to attract customers,” she explains, adding that the locals didn’t agree with the idea of a foreign-owned business. But as was her nature, Saba found another way to keep her business afloat. She started supplying local hotels, restaurants and bars with wine and other drinks – a move that helped her diversify her source of income.
But just as things were beginning to stabilise, another obstacle arose. In 2024, city officials in Arua demanded that she obtain a trading licence for her hotel.
Unfamiliar with the process and unsure of the legal requirements, Saba resorted to paying a city official to resolve the issue. Yet, months later, she found herself facing even more demands. “I thought the payment to the officer had sorted all my problems,” she says, shaking her head. The hotel was shut down twice, and Saba realised that a quick fix wasn’t going to cut it.
Licensed at last
Finally, there came a turning point. Saba’s brother-in-law, who had attended an information session given by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), referred her to NRC’s legal assistance programme. Saba remembers the day she walked into the NRC centre. “I was warmly received,” she says with a smile.
The paralegals at the centre guided her through the process of legally registering her business and obtaining the necessary trading licences. With the support of the ICLA team, Queen Saba Hotel was officially registered, and she finally received her licence. The days of unrecorded payments and business shutdowns are now a thing of the past.
“I now proudly display my trading licence and certificate of business registration,” she says, her voice filled with pride. Today, her hotel remains open, and she can comfortably meet her household needs, including paying school fees for her children.
A future full of hope
Saba’s journey, from struggling to survive in a rural refugee settlement to running multiple businesses in Arua City, is a testament to her resilience and determination.
“Although my business is sometimes not as successful as I would like, my mind is free of the worry of losing money through multiple payments like before,” she reflects.
Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of legal support for refugees. With the right guidance, refugees like Saba can navigate complex regulations in foreign lands, rebuild their lives, and even contribute to the economic growth of their new communities. Saba, once overwhelmed by the challenges of displacement, now stands as an example of what is possible with perseverance and the right support.
“I am hopeful for the future,” Saba says with a smile.
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