Menzies Aviation started training 12 displaced individuals this week at its Menzies Aviation Training School in Uganda, the first country in the handler's Middle East, Africa and Asia region to host the new Refugee Workforce Program developed with the Amahoro Coalition.

The cohort follows a three-phase pathway that Menzies intends to replicate across its global ground-handling and cargo network. Phase one delivers three months of classroom instruction, with Menzies supplying materials, meals and transport from designated pickup points. Successful candidates then move to internships in operational areas at Entebbe International Airport before a final phase that aims to convert that experience into employment with Menzies, subject to available positions, operational requirements and individual performance.

What will the trainees study?

After an initial assessment, participants will pursue either the IATA Airline Customer Service Diploma or the IATA Cargo Introductory Diploma. The qualifications are industry-recognised and align directly with the ramp, gate and cargo work Menzies performs at airports on behalf of airline customers. The handler did not disclose the tuition value or duration beyond the three-month classroom block.

Why Uganda?

Uganda hosts one of Africa's largest refugee populations, a demographic factor the company cited in selecting the country as a regional launch site. Mary Efata, general manager of Menzies Aviation, framed the decision in social terms rather than commercial ones. "Uganda is home to one of the largest refugee populations in Africa and many people are looking for the opportunity to build a future," Efata said. "You only have to meet the participants of this new programme to see the ambition and determination they bring. We're excited to welcome the first group and help them discover what a career in aviation can offer."

How does this fit Menzies' wider refugee strategy?

The Uganda cohort sits inside a broader employment programme that Menzies says has already supported more than 120 refugees worldwide. Refugee hiring initiatives currently run in 12 countries, with partnerships already in place with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Tent Partnership for Refugees. Juliet Thomson, chief people officer at Menzies Aviation, pointed to operational experience as the rationale for expansion. "We've seen first-hand the skills, resilience and commitment that people from refugee backgrounds bring to our teams and I'm grateful to everyone who has helped turn this idea into reality," Thomson said.

What is the Amahoro Coalition's role?

Menzies has not detailed the financial split or contractual structure of its arrangement with Amahoro Coalition. The coalition is named as the local partner enabling recruitment, assessment and pastoral support for participants drawn from refugee communities. The handler described the Uganda model as a template intended to be portable to additional stations once the first cohort's outcomes are measured.

What are the network and workforce implications?

Ground-handling labour markets across East Africa have tightened as passenger and cargo volumes at hubs such as Entebbe recover from pandemic-era lows and as new airline services add ramp and gate demand. A structured pipeline of IATA-certified trainees offers Menzies a direct channel into entry-level customer service and cargo roles that are otherwise filled through ad-hoc local recruitment. For Uganda's aviation sector, the program adds a second formal training route alongside existing airline and regulator-led cabin and operations courses. Menzies did not state a target headcount or a timeline for the next cohort, though a company spokesperson indicated the Uganda program will serve as a model for developing sustainable workforce pathways that could be replicated across its global network of more than 200 airports.

The first 12 trainees now have three months of classroom work before the Entebbe internship phase begins.