POLITICS | YOUTH | EXTREMISM

KAMPALA - Over 50 youth leaders and Councilors around the five divisions of Kampala have undergone an orientation on Prevention, countering and Violent Extremism (PCVE).

Violent extremism is defined as the beliefs and actions of people who support or use violence to achieve ideological, religious or political goals.

The actions include terrorism and other forms of politically motivated and communal violence.

Speaking during the meeting held at Grand Global hotel in Kikoni, Kampala recently, the Founder, Action for Fundamental Change And Development (AFFCAD), Jaffar Tazan Nyombi, said the move was aimed at increasing public awareness of violent extremism with an outcome of reducing youth engagement in violent extremism.

David Wasswa Ssengendo, Deputy Director Counter Terrorism speaks during the orientation meeting on countering and prevention of violent extremism. (All Photos by Shamim Saad)

“PCVE is a concept which is growing and mostly affects people in slum areas. We want to mobilize the youth to change their attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violent extremism,” he said.

Adding, “We strongly believe that this approach will strengthen the capacity of youth leaders in Kampala City on mitigating violent extremism.”

Nyombi said the project is to reach over 2,000 youth from Kampala metropolitan area with messages on the prevention of violent extremism while directly reaching 30 stakeholders.

Youth leaders listen attentively during the orientation meeting on countering and prevention of violent extremism held at Grand Global hotel in Kampala recently.

The 6-month project which commenced in October is being funded through the support of “Civilians Protection Opportunity Fund”, a sponsored project of Rokefeller Philanthropy Advisor under the theme “Youth at the helm of preventing violent extremism”.

Doris Namatovu Isabel, Fundraising and Communication Officer, AFFCAD noted that youth in slum communities are more vulnerable to engaging in violent extremism.

“A lot is happening in the world, they might be facing a lot of challenges but violence is not the way to go, you can stay away from these acts by engaging in meaningful employment like starting up a small business,” she advised.

Namatovu pointed out idleness and unemployment as the key drivers of causes of youths engaging in acts of violent extremism which in the end lead to frustrations.

David Wasswa Ssengendo, Senior Commissioner of Police. Deputy Director Counter Terrorism said good parenting is a way of preventing children and youth from being radicalized.

(L-R) Jaffar Tazan Nyombi, Founder, Action for Fundamental Change And Development (AFFCAD), David Wasswa Ssengendo, Deputy Director Counter Terrorism and Doris Namatovu Isabel, Fundraising and Communication Officer, AFFCAD share a light moment during the orientation meeting on countering and prevention of violent extremism held at Grand Global hotel in Kampala.

“Nowadays parents get too busy for their children yet it is a very important aspect that we parents must know that your presence and understanding your child as they grow, is a very important thing, your role in bringing up your children may be something that can make a very big contribution to tomorrow’s society. So parenting is very critical and we shouldn’t lose our roles as parents and get buried into making money, travels,” he explained

Ssengendo further stated that there is need to popularize the national strategy on PCVE and commended AFFCAD for coming up with such platforms.

On his part, the PCVE Coordinator, Ministry of Internal Affairs Anthony Nakhaima said since PCVE is still a new notion in the country, there is still need to sensitization and create awareness on the same.

“The government is willing to work with you and reach out to the young people on eth ground to prevent all this. The government already constituted the national framework on PCVE to create awareness,”  

He urged AFFCAD and other CSOs to evaluate the impact of such programs to find out their impacts on people.