KAICIID supported a four-day workshop on interreligious dialogue for religious studies scholars at Uganda’s Makerere University. Held from 4 to7 August, the workshop was co-sponsored by the Nile Dialogue Platform, and was organised by Haji Abdu Katende, who was awarded a 2015 KAICIID Fellowship. For the past 28 years, Haji Katende has been a lecturer in the Department of Religion and Peace Studies at Makerere University. He offers lectures in the areas of Islamic Theology, Peace Studies and Inter-religious Dialogue.

Through the KAICIID International Fellows Programme, KAICIID supports teachers of future religious leaders in teaching their students about the importance and effective use of interreligious dialogue as a peacebuilding and mediation tool. Over the course of a year, the Fellows work together to embed interreligious dialogue in their training institutions through training and other concrete projects.

Speaking Tuesday at the opening of the workshop, head of Makerere University, Dr. Patrick Mangeni said that interreligious dialogue is no longer an option but a necessity.

"We have no option but to engage in all efforts that can promote religious harmony for a more peaceful country."

"There is a need to spread the message of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence throughout the country today and this training is one small effort in that direction. It will also make a big contribution to peace," he said.

"Particularly, attention must be paid to young men and women who are called to build the future of this country," he noted.

During the workshop, the students also visited a variety of places of worship: the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), the Rubaga Cathedral (Catholic), the Bahai Temple and a Hindu temple.

During the visit to the UMSC, His Eminence the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje urged them to be good advocates of interfaith dialogue in their respective communities after graduating.

“With (increasing) acts of extremism, it is important that young people like you acquaint yourselves with the skills of promoting interfaith dialogue so that you can confront the narrative of violent extremism.”

Sheikh Mubaje commended KAICIID, the Nile Dialogue Platform and Makerere University for joining hands to ensure that interfaith dialogue becomes a mandatory course unit for students of religious studies.