Mark Muzira

Country: Uganda

How did you join the Re:BUiLD?

Wanting to work for refugees goes back to my university days. When I was doing my Diploma, it became clear to me that I wanted to work with humanitarian organizations. However, at that time, I didn’t know yet what type of different organizations work they do. During my bachelor’s degree at Uganda Christian University Mukono, I enrolled for a course in Social Work & Social Administration, and after graduation I started volunteering with GTZ in Nakivale refugee settlement camp. it is upon through volunteering that I was given the opportunity to participate in the OPM / UNHCR verification exercise that opened opportunities for me to interact with various stakeholders & partners across the south western region.  We would interact freely with UNHCR staff and one time one of them invited us to watch a documentary at their staff quarters. This documentary was very much focused on the work of UNHCR and the stories of refugees residing in camps, and that turned out to be a light-bulb moment for me. Seeing the desperation people felt after they were forced to leave everything they knew and loved in within their countries of origin, this made me realize that I wanted to do everything I could to serve these people. Through this background I got the opportunity to work with humanitarian actors that comprise of InterAid Uganda, American Refugee Committee, Africa Humanitarian Action& Norwegian Refugee Council. 
When I saw the REBUILD advert running through social media, I submitted my application and fortunately upon being shortlisted I did interviews & emerged as the best candidate for the position of the Community & Client Engagement Officer based at the urban office. With my passion for community work I have enjoyed working under the REBUILD program and supporting team members to ensure deliverables are archived as a team. 
 

What’s a typical day like for you?

On a typical day I wake up at 4:30 am have a prayer & prepare myself and put my office schedule in place, I wake early because am staying at the out skirts of another district  called Mukono so to avoid jam this takes me approximately one hour to office . on reaching office I link up with the driver who drops me at the IRC livelihood resource center in Nsambya. 
My core role while at the center is to attend to walk in clients that come to seek for services at the center, manage client feedback channels, conduct dialogues , sessions  and strengthen referral mechanisms amongst work stream holders & partners. 
 

What is your greatest achievement/thing you are most proud from your work at Re:BUiLD?

Every day brings something amazing in my line of work, and every day I feel that I am contributing to something meaningful. But there is one moment that stands out. 
As the client responsiveness focal staff within the REBUILD program, am passionate about community engagement, stakeholder engagement, mobilization and managing the proactive and reactive feedback channels that collect client opinions and this entire feedback is always actioned to inform project decision making and effective service delivery. 
Overall, working with REBUILD is very rewarding but can be challenging at the same time. At times, it’s the sheer magnitude of the emergency response that makes our job challenging. 
 

Do you have any hobbies or favorite pastimes outside of work?

I am great fun of soccer & music and apparently am an old boy of Busoga College Mwiri. The Mwiri League is a corporate soccer and cricket competition that brings together different generations of old boys of Busoga College Mwiri and friends across the different cohorts to network.
It aims at building formidable relationships, promoting fitness and finding cohesive measures of rebuilding the school to its initial glory.
 

Who’s been your favorite mentor?

My favorite mentor has been my mother & dad who have raised me entirely since childhood and have always encouraged me to keep a low profile & be humble amongst colleagues. 

What’s your favorite book?

The 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen R. Covey 

Where would you go if you won a “dream vacation”?

I would love to travel to Paris and view the Eiffel Tower with my family and meet some of the French World cup winners / footballers.