Kampala|The National Counter Terrorism Centre in Uganda has received a shipment from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to aid in the fight against violent extremism.
The items will help improve the center’s operations and public outreach programs.
For many years, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has worked with stakeholders on a project to prevent and combat violent extremism while protecting human rights.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lt Gen Joseph Musanyufu, thanked the UNODC for their collaboration.
Musanyufu acknowledged partner support, including that of the European Union.
He emphasized that combating transnational threats is a global effort that necessitates collective action, stating, “This is not an individual country fight. It is an international fight, and we appreciate your support.”
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Sharon Lesa Nyambe, Head of Office, UNODC in Uganda, emphasized the organization’s collaborative efforts with member states to promote peace and security.
“In Uganda, we are privileged, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Counterterrorism Centre, to have collaborated on a project titled strengthening efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism while maintaining human rights standards,” she added.
Lesa stated that the donations will help to facilitate and improve coordination, which will be led by the National Counter Terrorism Centre, as well as ensure the dissemination of information and training.
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She also stated that it will increase capacity for understanding some of the key drivers and pull factors associated with violent extremism.
Brig Gen Dominic Twesigomwe, Commandant of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, stated that the counterterrorism centre is made up of ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as civil society and non-governmental organisations.
The center also coordinates counterterrorism efforts at the national, regional, and international levels.
“As a national counterterrorism organization, we are primarily attempting to strike a balance between kinetic and soft approaches. But in our strategy for national counter-terrorism and violent extremism, we normally prioritize human rights; as we fight terrorism, we rely on human rights.”
Uganda’s National Counter Terrorism Centre has led a number of counterterrorism initiatives over the last four weeks.
Four key areas
The Center improves coordination, strategic communication, preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE), and collaboration among key stakeholders.
This included training 400 prison staff on how to manage violent extremist prisoners, as well as 50 participants from ministries, departments, and agencies and civil society on PCVE.
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