The opening of the training on Thursday morning already set the tone for the next two days. The round of introductions not only gave the speakers and participants a first chance to network, but also clearly highlighted the diversity of the group. Dr Nansozi Muwanga, Director of JNLC, welcomed the attendees and took the opportunity to remind the young leaders of their central role in future innovation and development on the African continent and in the current conflicts in the region. On the part of KAS, Nils Wörmer, Director of the RP SIPODI East Africa, warmly welcomed the student leaders and advised them that to be a leader, it takes more than a two-day training with a certificate but commitment, serving their communities and discipline.
Prof. Philip Kasaija, Department of Political Science at Makerere University, presented the basis for an understanding of peace and security. He linked the theoretical approaches of types of peace and causes of conflict with current examples in the Horn of Africa. Dr Edward Kaweesi, Department of Political Science at Makerere University, carried these ideas further into the field of conflict analysis and conflict dynamics. Dr Gardner Rwakiseta, Programme Coordinator at JNLC, followed with a talk on the centrality of emotional intelligence in conflict mediation and resolution. The session was concluded by Ssazi Ronald, Strong Minds-Uganda and Gloria Namata, Financial Literacy Consultant, with presentations in the areas of mental health and financial literacy for sustainable peacebuilding.
In the afternoon, the participants worked in small groups on practical conflict analysis and combined their own experience and newly acquired knowledge in their solution approaches. Nyaribi David, Action Aid-Uganda, complemented these approaches with a short presentation on discussion techniques in conflict mediation. The first day of the training was concluded by Teddy Namutebi, Financial Literacy Consultant, who praised the open and diverse exchange between the students. She invited the young leaders and experts to take the opportunity to ask questions and network at a reception.
The second day started with the presentation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 pillars, which for the first time specifically address young people in peacebuilding and through which Dr Gardner portrayed the potential of young actors in security issues. In the following session on “Building Local Peace Initiatives”, Prof. Kasaija Philip, Gloria Namata, Henry Kasacca, Training Center for Democracy and Governance and Joanna Nakabito, Peace and Security Consultant, shared the stage. They guided the young leaders through the current conflict situations in the Great Lakes region and gave practical tips on how the participants can become active themselves. Dr Solomon Winyi, Department of Political Science at Makerere University then highlighted the dangers and potential of social media to mobilise youth and young adults in peacekeeping.
After a brief input on leadership qualities and group dynamics, the afternoon gave participants the opportunity to work on case scenarios using various methods in a solution-oriented approach. Afterwards, students worked in small groups to create their own projects and associated action plans, which were then presented in plenary, providing an opportunity for critical exchange among the students and feedback from the experts. In his speech, Dr Simba Sallie Kayunga, Representative from the Uganda Electoral Commission of Uganda, educated the student leaders on the electoral processes and procedures and also urged them to be peace makers in their communities and country. Question and answer sessions after each unit highlighted the lively participation and great interest of the young professionals.
At the end of the training, Angella Kasekende, Project Manager at KAS RP SIPODI East Africa, encouraged the young leaders to view the training not as an endpoint, but as a foundation to apply in their careers and continue their professional development. Dr Nansozi Muwanga reinforced this message, urging the participants to actively engage in the Pan-African leadership movement, particularly in peacebuilding, following the example set by Julius Nyerere. The event concluded with the awarding of certificates to the participants.
About this series
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.