Anthony's life has been a journey filled with struggles and obstacles. As a young man growing up in Uganda, a country where the general unemployment rate stands at 4.28% while the youth unemployment rate is at 6.58% as Reported by Development Aid on 13th Aug 2023.

He faced financial difficulties and lacked access to quality education. Despite these challenges, Anthony never gave up on his dreams and kept pushing himself to achieve his goals.

Although Anthony has never been involved in any acts of violent extremism, he has been exposed to scenarios on the streets where fellow young people were demonstrating and facing police brutality which is considered one of the PUSH factors to Violent Extremism. This exposure makes Anthony among the many young people who have been exposed to violent extremism. As an underprivileged young man, unemployed with so many frustrations, he could have engaged in any dangerous acts, but he was patient with life. Fortunately for Anthony, he got lucky and joined Katwe Skills Centre, thanks to Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum (UMYDF) partnership with FCA Uganda and a generous funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Anthony has learned valuable skills that have changed his life.

He shared with us his story of how he faced financial struggles throughout his life, even as a senior four-leaver with a certificate. He aimed to get a first grade, but due to financial struggles and lack of quality materials, he only got a second grade in Senior Four. Anthony had to work to get what he wanted, such as part of the school fees. After completing his exams, he had to leave his certificate at school since he couldn't afford to pay for it.

One day, Anthony's friend, who was studying Hone Electronics at Katwe Skills Centre, told him about a school where they could study for free. Anthony had previously wanted to study mass communication but due to financial struggles, he couldn't. He decided to come to Katwe Skills Centre for a short course in Home Electronics, and currently, he has the skills. Now he offers Home Electronic services like domestic installation of electricity in houses, and installing light sockets and switches. Anthony can now earn a living from the skills he has learned at Katwe Skills Centre.

Katwe Skills Centre Home Electronic Class in Session

Anthony appreciates the staff and teachers who have been good to them, especially his die-hard teacher Madam Regina, who has constantly guided them. He came to school for a certificate but developed an interest in electricity and now works as an electrician. Anthony is not working for massive repayments, but he can earn enough money to provide for himself and also support his mum.

Anthony's mum is a vendor who sells clothes; this is where she gets the little money to support herself. Anthony knows that his mum needs more money to save and increase the capital, but what she gets is not enough. When Anthony works and gets 200k, he sends her like 100k to help her enrich her business; he hopes one day she will also be happy.

He has undergone a significant change in his personality - he has become a more peaceful person. His time at the Katwe Skills Centre has furthered this transformation. They have been taught about peacebuilding by people like Madam Aaliyah, who have encouraged them to look at the bigger picture and have hope. Through their lessons, Anthony has learned that anyone can succeed in life. They have even been trained in creating business plans. With a small capital of even 200k UGX, Anthony started a Chapat business, and now he earns 10k UGX daily. He also takes the time to teach his fellow youth about Peace and Business.

Photo: Katwe Skills Centre Students During Peacebuilding Lessons.

Anthony no longer feels the need to shout on the streets and demand change from the president. Instead, he teaches people to stop indulging in such activities and explains the consequences - they might lose their lives and leave their families behind. Anthony encourages people to focus on peace instead of engaging in conflicts and disrespect. They have been able to handle simple problems like disagreements and disrespect among vendors thanks to these teachings.

He is planning to pursue a diploma in electrical engineering, but he wants to finish his current studies first. He aims to establish a strong source of income. To achieve this, Anthony plans to study three modules, obtain a working permit, and work as an electrician to pay for his diploma tuition. He wishes to be limitless in his career choices.

His second plan is to start an electronics business. He has already made plans for it as they were taught how to plan businesses. Although he has not yet acquired the equipment, Anthony has already secured a space for a workshop. He wants to specialize in electrical gadgets, such as freezers, and provide installation services. He aspires to run a successful electronics business.

Anthony's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination. Despite all the challenges he faced, he never gave up on his dreams. By learning new skills, Anthony has been able to improve his life and the lives of those around him. His story is an inspiration to many young people in Uganda who face similar struggles. We thank FCA Uganda for the partnership in implementing the Katwe Skills Centre Training program, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland for the generous Donation

Photo: Members from UMYDF, Bridgeway & ARLPI at the B2P (DRR) Knowledge Exchange Workshop

It is important to recognize that Violent Extremism has no limits. Even though the LRA war and its activities have ceased in Northern Uganda, it does not mean that everything is fully restored to normal. It is crucial to understand that VE has the potential to happen anywhere and can still have a profound impact on the people we care for. Francis from ARLPI spoke extensively about their organization's work during our Knowledge Exchange workshop which happened on the 7th & 8th August 2023 at UMYDF Centre for Peace Practice. ARLPI is an umbrella organization for the major religious denominations in Northern Uganda, and its objective is to pursue peaceful conflict resolution with the LRA.

Francis from ARLPI at the B2P (DRR) Knowledge Exchange Workshop

During the workshop, we also had the pleasure of hosting representatives from Bridgeway, including the esteemed Trauma Counsellor, PEACE KASIIMIRE, and the Resident Imam and Religious Counsellor, KIZIITO NASIIFU. Mr. Kiziito provided valuable insight into the intricate process that Bridgeway implements in rehabilitating returnees. He also gave us a glimpse into the challenges that Bridgeway faces, particularly in dealing with the mindset of the returnees. It was clear that the Bridgeway process requires a significant amount of commitment and patience to ensure that the returnees successfully complete the program.

Photo: The Team From Bridgeway Left to Right - Mr Kizito Naswif and Mdm PEACE KASIIMIRE at the B2P (DRR) Knowledge Exchange Workshop

At the workshop, attendees brought attention to the latest challenges in Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR), one of which was the unique difficulties faced by women and children returnee. The discussion emphasized the need to develop innovative approaches to better support these vulnerable groups.

The primary objective of the workshop was to significantly improve the knowledge and self-efficacy of Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum staff in DRR. This would ultimately lead to a marked increase in the quality of activities delivered to beneficiaries.

Our primary objective was to thoroughly evaluate the available resources and capacities that can be effectively utilized for Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration programming. To provide in-depth insights on key stages that must be considered in DRR processes, along with a comprehensive analysis of Risk management and mitigation strategies for DRR programs. Furthermore, to critically examine and highlight the essential steps and best practices involved in monitoring and evaluating DRR interventions.

It is crucial to express our sincere appreciation to our partner, the Kofi Annan Foundation, for their significant technical and moral assistance, as well as to the European Union in Uganda for their generous contributions to the Bridges to Peace Project.

We are pleased to announce that the Bridges to Peace Project has been making steady progress for nearly 8 months. Despite some challenges, we have successfully executed project activities thanks to our esteemed partner, the Kofi Annan Foundation, and the invaluable support of the European Union. Our team has accomplished several activities with exceptional outcomes, and we take great pride in these achievements.

From the Influencers training which happened in February 2023 where 20 key figures from four districts of Uganda were trained on the P/CVE, a number of them pledged to use the acquired knowledge to promote peace in their communities, A youth participant testified that for a long time he always thought that stopping Violent Extremism was only possible to those with huge logistics and power (like the Government). “now I am ready to go back to my community and influence my fellow youth to consider promoting Peace".

Zulaika Nanfuka - Manager & Resource Mobilizer - UMYDF interacting with Journalists & Media Actors at the Workshop

In March 2023, our team successfully conducted a two days Capacity building workshop for local and National media actors on Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism, the activity overall goal was to accelerate and strengthen the role of media and journalists in the prevention/countering of violent extremism and terrorism. 

The purpose of this activity was to educate media professionals on the terminology, dynamics, and best practices related to Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism (P/CVET) issues. The activity also familiarized them with both Global and National Policy & legislative frameworks. By participating in this activity, media practitioners were able to develop their knowledge, skills, and strategies to effectively contribute to P/CVET efforts. The activity also provided opportunities for media practitioners to continue learning about P/CVE issues and encouraged them to engage in independent study.

During the workshop for the Bridges to Peace project, 20 journalists from four districts in Uganda attended. We were privileged to have Mr. Nicolas Gonze, the Head of Governance and Social Inclusion for the EU Delegation in Uganda, as our guest of honor. In his speech, Mr. Gonze highlighted to the Journalists the factors that contribute to violent extremism.

A senior journalist named Charles Etukuri from New Vision expressed his positive feedback on the training and suggested that the organization extend it to media house editors. He emphasized that even when they produce good stories, the editors ultimately decide what gets published. The training helped him understand how to handle people who attach the narrative of violent extremism to Muslims, and he hopes to continue promoting prevention and countering violent extremism through his work. Another journalist named Magembe Farish also praised the training and pledged to utilize the knowledge gained in his reporting.

Our team has also conducted a total of eight training sessions in four districts, namely Lwengo, Masaka, Kampala, and Bugiri, for both Youth and Women Leaders. The aim was to empower and enhance the role of women and youth leaders in addressing the factors that contribute to violent extremism in their respective communities.

Kampala Women Leaders engaging in a Discussion with the Participants 

Regarding the Youth, Our objective was to enhance the self-efficacy of youth leaders by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills to inspire youth-led action aimed at addressing conditions that promote violent extremism in their communities.

Regarding the women, Our goal has been to empower and support women leaders in combating violent extremism in their communities. We aimed at helping them address the challenges and needs of their communities that may affect peace, and build their self-efficacy and commitment to promoting and maintaining peace. “Much as I am a Leader, I have been having less confidence in myself but after this training, I strongly believe in myself and I know nothing is impossible said one of the women participant”.

“Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are.”—Hafsat Abiola, Nigerian human rights activist 

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of Justice. It is the protection of a fundamental Human Right, the right to dignity and a decent life” - Nelson Mandela.

“When journalists measure their success or their ethics by the size of their readership or their audience, by the profits of their companies or by their incomes, status and visibility, they have caved in to the temptations of worshiping idols/false gods.” (Thomas Rosentiel, Thinking Clearly: Cases in Journalistic Decision Making.)

We are in a generation where the core roles of journalism have lost value, it’s no longer about information, Education and humanity, it’s about fame and money. As an organisation that stands for PEACE, we have been concerned over the manner at which media has contributed to the growing rate of Violent Extremism, we understand that some have contributed unknowingly but we all have seen the damage. Through the Bridges to Peace Project which we are implementing in partnership with the Kofi Annan
Foundation with a generous funding from the European Union, we have conducted a two days workshop intentionally for capacity building for local and National media actors on Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism. 

The workshop attracted 20 journalists from the four Uganda districts where the Bridges to Peace project is being implemented, during the workshop, we had the honour to host the EU Delegation in Uganda Head of Governance & Social Inclusion Mr. Nicolas Gonze who was our guest of honour.In his remarks Mr Nicolas Gonze put an emphasis on the contributors to violent extremism, in his words he said, “there is no single pathway to violent extremism, but we know that extremism flourishes when human rights are violated, political space is shrunk, aspirations for inclusion are ignored, and too many people especially young people lack prospects and meaning in their lives As we see in Syria, Libya and elsewhere, violent extremists also make unresolved and prolonged conflicts even more intractable”. Mr Gonze also highlighted to Journalists and our team the focus of the project, “the project will directly contribute to 6 of the 13 pillars of the recently approved Uganda National Strategy and Action plan for Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism namely: Priority Area 2 on Engaging Communities; Priority Area 3 on Dialogue and Conflict Prevention; Priority Area 4 focused on Strengthening
good governance, human rights, and the rule of law; Priority area 6 on Gender equality and empowerment of Women; Priority area 8 on Strategic communication; and Priority area 11 on response to violent extremism and terrorism” he said.
 

The two days training was a moment of challenging the participants (Journalists) on the major spots they were missing out when during reporting on Violent Extremism activities, the lessons from the facilitators highlighted the need to Promote Prevention/Countering Violent Extremisms narratives. On the last day of the training we received some really positive feedback from the participants, a one Chris Higenyi, renown journalist from NTV Uganda had this to say “Sometimes we assume that we know and we
are informed but this training has challenged me to think in a more dynamic way as a journalist, this has been a very insightful Training”.

Charles Etukuri a senior Journalist from New Vision said “this training is very good, I suggest that your organisation extends it to the Editors of the Media houses where we are working, because even when we do good stories, the Editors determine what should be published. “This training has helped me to understand how to deal with people who have attached the narrative of Violent Extremism to us the Muslims, I hope to do my work better and help promote Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) through my work. Magembe Farish, Journalist andReporter” said.

As result of this training we have had our first TV feature story done by one Journalist from the National Television (UBC TV), Mr Okurut Henry did a story highlighting the need for journalists to understand how to report Violent Extremism stories which he also posted on his YouTube channel, you can watch the story through the link https://youtu.be/rrzWXvOsBic.

We are grateful to our Partner Kofi Annan Foundation for the continued technical and moral support, we look forward to a great impact through the Bridges to Peace Project.

Bridges to Peace is a multi-faceted P/CVE project implemented by Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum & Kofi Annan Foundation with funding from the European Union.

In our bid to promote Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism, working with the Kofi Annan Foundation with support from the European Union, we are implementing an 18 months PCVE project from this year.

Our efforts started with a number of stakeholders meetings and consultations which gave us a proper direction and understanding of the need for the project. On the 27th - 28th March 2023 we held a training for key figures from different parts of the country.

The influencers training attracted 20 participants and among these included religious leaders, online influencers, journalists and other persons whose voices count more in their communities.

The influencers training which our team executed successfully is intended to prepare these men and women to preach peace through Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism. Through this training we witnessed a great change of mindset among the trainees.

The mindset change was witnessed through the different testimonies which our team got from some participants. A youth participant testified that for a long time he always thought that stopping Violent Extremism was only possible to those with huge logistics and power (like the Government). “now I am ready to go back to my community and influence my fellow youth to consider

Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism as a way of bringing peace and Development”, he also added on by thanking UMYDF, Kofi Annan Foundation and the European Union for all the effort they have put in making sure that such great initiatives happen.

A Pastor who was also among the participants confessed that for a long time he has been looking at all Moslems as the enemies and terrorists who are killing people but after the training he has stopped to look at Moslems as enemies, “When I was called for the training and I saw the initiative was a Moslem initiative, I feared for my life but after the first day of the training, today on the second day of the training I chose to sit next to my Moslem brothers because now I know they are not the enemies” the Pastor and one of the Participants confessed.

One social media influencer appreciated the training and said that she learned so many things that she did not know, she also emphasised that after the training she no longer looks at Moslems as enemies, she now believes that through her platforms she can create real change in terms of Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism. “I even know someone who is getting into acts of violent extremism in my circles but I have been taking it lightly, now I am going to act and see how I can help that person” she said.

As Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum, we take this opportunity to thank our partner Kofi Annan Foundation for the every technical input they have been and are still offering, also we thank the European Union for the financial support to see that that BRIDGES TO PEACE Project is in the implementation stage, together we hope to see Prevention/Countering Violent Extremism taken up as a major tool in Peace-building and stopping radicalisation.

My name is Rahma Hasfa. I live in Gayaza. Before I came to Katwe Skills Center