A CALL FOR A HARMONIOUS RELIGIOUS CO-EXISTENCE.

One of the fundamental pillars of the homely and friendly African society is religion. Religious institutions have played a significant role in nurturing the younger generation with values such as love, compassion, and respect.

However, in some instances, these institutions can be misused, leading to sectarianism and sometimes violent extremism. This undermines peace and harmony, the core values that every religion strives to uphold.

Peace practitioners like Mr. Nuwagaba Mushin, a passionate Ugandan peacemaker, speaker, and writer, have stepped in to promote harmonious religious coexistence.

Nuwagaba Mushin is a peace practitioner, humanitarian, and a strong advocate for promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He is the founder and Team Leader of Allied Muslim Youth Uganda (AMYU) and serves as a steering committee member and youth representative of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum (AU-IFDF). Additionally, he is an alumnus of the State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Programme and a trained mediator with a passion for education, climate change, and youth empowerment.

Mushin studied Islamic Theology and Arabic Language and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Administrative and Secretarial Science and a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. He shares his journey and insights with us in this interview:

Nuwagaba draws his inspiration primarily from his upbringing. He grew up in a religious family where his father, the late Sheikh Abdunoor Kaduyu, was an Islamic leader in southwestern Uganda. Sheikh Kaduyu was known for his cooperation with leaders from other religions, and experiences of interfaith coexistence were commonplace in their homes.

“I remember our home being the first Muslim family to host a Bishop for a night,” Mushin recalls. “My father was highly respected by people of all faiths because of his all-embracing character. This greatly inspired me to follow in his footsteps, building bridges of peace and nurturing generations of multi-faith leaders.”

Beyond his upbringing, Mushin’s deep understanding of Islam as a peaceful religion fueled his passion for peace and cooperation. His knowledge of Islamic Theology and the Arabic Language lay a strong foundation for his work in promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

“I was deeply concerned when religious extremism began to take root in Islamic communities, especially after the 2010 al-Shabab bombings in Kampala that left many dead and others injured,” he explains. “The misrepresentation of Islam as a violent religion was gaining traction. That was a turning point for me, a moment when I knew I had to show the world what true Islam is about: – peace and harmony.”

However, working with communities to establish a shared vision of peace and harmony is among the most challenging yet crucial tasks for achieving sustainable peace. It requires significant time and effort to build enduring foundations. While we may not witness the full fruition of the peace efforts we sow daily, our steadfast faith sustains us. The future holds promise if we persist in our commitment to peace-building, despite the inevitable challenges.

“I have faced threats to my life in the past, but they do not deter me,” Mushin reflects. “I understood the risks when I chose to dedicate myself to preventing and countering extremism and terrorism. My faith in God is unwavering; He protects and guides my footsteps.”

Despite all the challenges faced, Mushin has made significant contributions to preventing religious violent extremism. He frequently inspires and encourages youth to embrace harmonious coexistence across different faiths. As a regular contributor to both government and non-government projects, he actively participates in public conversations about religious pluralism, peace, and the prevention of violent extremism, both locally and internationally.

“We train people in various settings, such as schools and workplaces, building their capacity for peace,” Mushin explains. “We help create safe spaces for dialogue and promote online and offline communication campaigns that foster tolerance and respect for diversity.”

Mushin addresses young people who are on the verge of joining extremist groups, acknowledging that they often do so for different reasons, most commonly due to unaddressed pain or trauma, and encourages them to find someone to talk to and reassures them that they can make a positive contribution to the progress of their communities.

He further emphasizes the importance of political actors in Africa fostering an environment where religious freedom and other human rights can flourish. “By ensuring people are free to express their beliefs and promoting respect for diversity and sacred sites, we can guarantee religious harmony,” he suggests. “Leaders must refrain from using inflammatory rhetoric that fuels polarization, hate speech, misinformation, and violence.”

“When we examine past conflicts in Africa, we observe that they often revolve around religious or ethnic ideologies, as evidenced by events such as the Rwandan genocide, the activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, the crisis in the Central African Republic, and various conflicts in Nigeria” he notes.

He then urges African leaders to educate their citizens about the security challenges facing their communities, emphasizing that increased awareness empowers individuals to be more resilient against threats to peace and harmony.

Looking ahead, Mushin plans to continue fostering stronger interfaith relations, particularly among young people in Africa and advancing peace. “It is equally crucial to address challenges faced by our communities, especially where access to basic needs like shelter, clean water, and sanitation is lacking. I am eager to collaborate with anyone committed to improving these conditions.”

Conclusively, Mushin’s story inspires many young people, challenging them to make positive impacts in their communities. “There are always challenges in every community, but what matters is our response,” he emphasizes. We can all learn from his story and become partners in creating a better world to live in.