Preventing violent extremism in Uganda: the role of resilience and dialogue

Two distinct but complementary approaches could address violent extremism at local community level.

This report explores two distinct but complementary approaches to addressing violent extremism at the local community level in Uganda. In the first approach, communities engage their agency in building resilience to the conditions that contribute to violent extremism. In the second, dialogue within and between communities, as well as between communities and the security and justice actors active in them, is used to address and resolve problems that might otherwise result in radicalisation to violent extremism.

About the authors

Dr Akinola Olojo is a senior researcher in the Complex Threats in Africa Programme at the ISS. Before this he was a visiting scholar at the Institut d’Études Politiques and a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism.

Romi Sigsworth is a research consultant with the Complex Threats in Africa Programme at the ISS. Prior to this she was the gender specialist at the ISS and a senior researcher at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.

Nuwagaba Muhsin Kaduyu is the founder and executive director of the Allied Muslim Youth Uganda. He is also a committee member and youth representative of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum.

Cover image: Amelia Broodryk/ISS