Uganda’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre has gained a valuable enhancement in its mission to tackle violent extremism.
A donation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which includes laptops and other essential equipment, is set to significantly improve the Centre’s operational capabilities and its initiatives for community engagement.
The UNODC has been collaborating with multiple partners on a project focused on preventing and countering violent extremism while ensuring the protection of human rights.
The Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided by the UNODC, recognizing the essential contributions of international collaborators, particularly the European Union.
“This fight is not an individual country fight. It’s an international fight, and we do appreciate that support,” he noted.
Sharon Lesa Nyambe, Head of the UNODC office in Uganda, emphasizing the organization’s partnership with member states to foster peace and security.
“In Uganda, we are privileged, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Counterterrorism Centre, to have worked collectively on a project entitled strengthening efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism while safeguarding human rights standards,” she said
Nyambe also noted that the newly received equipment would help bolster coordination efforts led by the Centre, enabling the dissemination of crucial information, providing training, and building capacity to better understand the key drivers of violent extremism.
Brig Gen. Dominic Twesigomwe, Commandant of Uganda’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre, explained that the Centre coordinates counter-terrorism activities at national, regional, and international levels, working closely with ministries, departments, agencies, civil society, and non-governmental organisations.
He observed that, “As National Counter-Terrorism, we are majorly trying to balance the kinetic means and the soft approach. But our strategy for National Counter-Terrorism and violent extremism, we normally put human rights at the forefront as we are fighting terrorism.”
In recent weeks, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre spearheaded a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing coordination, strategic communication, and preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE).
These efforts include the training of 400 prison staff in handling violent extremist prisoners and providing PCVE training to 50 participants from various ministries, departments, agencies, and civil society organisations
