The Role of Victims and Victims’ Associations in the Prevention of

Terrorism and Violent Extremism

Ahmed HadjiVictim of July 2010 Uganda Terrorist Bombing, and Co-Founder, Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum

(UMYDF) (www.umydf.org)

Where are the Victims of Kampala 2010 Terrorist Attacks?

• Back to the villages, cannot take care of themselves in town

• Staying with relatives, cannot take care of themselves

• In seclusion, disturbed, emotionally perturbed• We don’t know where others are!

What Inspired Us

• Three Things:1. Giving hope to the victims;2. A unique approach to countering violent

extremism (CVE) (imams, mosques, inter faith, social media, anniversary);

3. To show resilience, to fight back, and prove that they are not winning.

UMYDF Activities

Imam Scholarship

CVE IEC

Social Media Training

Entrepreneurship & Strategic Plan Training

What Are We Doing?• Newspaper Articles• Imams CVE Training (social media, CVE strategies, mosques as

centres for development)• Imams scholarship to US• Partnerships with police and Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU)• Building local capacity in Inter-Faith Dialogue in Uganda.• Training of Trainers for Imams in Peace building and Conflict

Resolution• Civic Education for Peace & Diversity in Ugandan Qur’anic Schools.• Regional Conference to Support Reform and Modernization of

Ugandan Qur’anic Schools.• MSLS (Muslim Students Leadership Symposium)

Where are we Doing it?

UMDF Regions

Kampala District

Wakiso District

Mbale District

How May People Have We Reached?

151 Imams

213 Muslim Youth

2 Media Houses

1 Senior Police Officer

3 Districts

Partnership with Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU)

• Scholarship for Imams• Training on social media, mass media, and CVE• Training on transforming mosques to centers

of development• [insert picture of training Imams]

Partnering with Somali YouthSomali Youth Action for Change-SYAC

• Somali Youth have a program which we helped found in Kisenyi, a city slum area;

• We train them on entrepreneurship, proposal writing, strategic planning, English, human rights and governance

• [insert picture of training somali youth]

Strategic Planning & Entrepreneurship Training

• Focusing on Imams and At Risk Youth (Slums)• With Somali youth action for change-SYAC• With youth in the mosques

• [insert picture of training imams]

Victims Anniversary

• Held on …• Addressed:1. Experience sharing;2. Encouragement;3. Counseling; and

Partnering with Security Agents

• Security Officials As Facilitators And Partners• UMDF is the current public national resource

for anti terrorism information

Our Funding

• We need funding to:1. Train Imans’ on social media, and CVE tactics2. Fund Imams’ scholarship with IUIU3. Train youth on entrepreneurship skills4. Transform mosques to development centres5. Carry out inter-faith CVE programs6. Train media on reporting on CVE7. Develop IEC materials on CVE8. Carry out monitoring and evaluation of our work

• US State Dept (PREACT Program)

Lessons Learnt

• Engaging Security Officials in programs very important

• Need to address livelihoods of the at risk populations!

• Partnering with media to share our work!• Increasing capacity of Imams (social media,

transforming mosques to development areas, etc)

Challenges

• Computer illiteracy of Imams;• Lack of social media tools (computers, laptops,

etc), by Imams;• Lack of victims association to follow up;• Lack of clear role of victims on the anti

terrorism act;• Lack of a national resource centre;• Victims’ families not reached.

Future Plans

• Scholarship for 160 Imams- Imam Weekend Academic Programs in partnership with the Islamic University in Uganda (I.U.I.U).

• Victims Rehabilitation Centre• Review Of The Anti Terror Act To Recognize The Role Of Victims• Journalist CVE Training• CVE Materials• National Resource Centre for CVE (DVDs, audios, books,

magazines)• National Muslim Leadership Institute- Youth Leadership Camps

How Can You Help?

• Donating CVE IEC Materials• Providing financing for trainings, advocacy,

scholarships, anniversary of victims• Support the victims rehabilitation centre• Support the annual anniversary of victims• Support our advocacy to review the act

Thank You!

Uganda Muslim Youth Development ForumP. O. BOX 4365 Kampala - Uganda,

Plot 2, Agape Close, Ntinda KigoowaTel: +256 312 518127

Email: info@umydg.orgWebsite: www.umydf.org