Intimate partner violence (IPV) is linked to depression and disparities in sexual relationship power; gaining a deeper understanding of the pathways that underpin this relationship can enhance the development of targeted interventions for both relationship dynamics and depression. Both IPV and depression disproportionately affect refugees and require urgent attention, particularly among youth who are at a key development phase. As IPV can have long-lasting negative health impacts, reducing IPV risk and experiences is critical for long-term physical, mental, and sexual well-being. This is particularly salient among refugee youth, as experiences of IPV are more common compared with non-refugee counterparts and have been linked to depression. To deepen the understanding of these links, we explored the associations between intimate partner violence and depression and examined the mediation effects of sexual relationship power, referring to relational power dynamics and sexual decision-making. Cross- sectional data was collected from 346 urban refugee youth in Kampala, and structural equation modelling was used to test relationships between depression, IPV, and sexual relationship power. Results indicated that sexual relationship power, measured by the relationship control subscale, mediated the relationship between IPV and depression. IPV had direct (β = 0.16, p = 0.002, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.26) and indirect (aβ = 0.045, p = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.014, 0.076) effects on depression. These findings suggest that IPV both directly affects depression and reduces sexual relationship power that in turn also contributes to depression. It further underscores the urgent need for IPV prevention and gender-based violence prevention, as well as the integration of sexual relationship empowerment within larger programming for promoting healthy relationships and mental health.