The Perceived Strengths and Weaknesses of Prevailing Counterterrorism Strategies in Prevention of  Terrorism in Uganda

Wunyi Aggrey; Bateganya Fred; Butime Herman

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i06.90744

The Perceived Strengths and Weaknesses of Prevailing Counterterrorism Strategies in Prevention of Terrorism in Uganda

Author(s)	Mr. Wunyi Aggrey, Bateganya Fred, Butime Herman
Country	Uganda
Abstract	As a form of response to terrorism, Uganda adopted and developed international, national and local interventions. Despite these interventions, acts of terrorism, particularly terrorism related deaths continue to happen. According to the Global Terrorism Index Report (2024), deaths caused by terrorism increased by 22% to 8,352, the highest level since 2017. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the perceived strengths and weaknesses entailed in the prevailing counterterrorism strategies in Uganda. This study adopted a qualitative methodology and employed an ethnography research design to discover embedded and developing perceptions which are supporting or curtailing interventions. The study targeted returnees, security forces, policy makers, religious leaders, cultural leaders and academia who have a huge stake in anti-terrorism in Uganda. The survey utilized multistage sampling technique to select the study participants. Data was collected using life history interview, scheduled interviews, and focus group discussions. The study explored that targeting individuals showing early signs of radicalization, discouraging individuals susceptibility to extremist ideologies/tackling ideological causes of terrorism, offering psychosocial support and mentoring, offering rehabilitation and reintegration possibilities and integration of prevention, pursuance, protecting and preparing (mitigation) strategies reflect the perceived strengths of intervention. However, disruption of social relation and community trust, how they lead to marginalization and stigmatization, the prevalence of perceived injustices, inequality and lack of opportunity, their failure to enable community involvement and allies, possible inadequacies in meeting global demands and promotion of PPPs with CSOs and local communities form the perceived weaknesses. It was concluded that anti-terrorism measures need to be designed in a manner that strengthens social relations and community trust; avoid marginalization and stigmatization of suspect communities; observe and promote justice, equality and equal opportunity, community involvement and allies while adequately meeting global demands and promoting PPPs with CSOs and local communities. This implied that there is a need to build on the existing strengths in building a cross-cutting and sustainable anti-terrorism intervention framework for Uganda.
Keywords	Strengths, Weaknesses, Terrorism, Anti-terror interventions, Returnees
Field	Sociology > Intelligence / Security
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 6, November-December 2026
Published On	2026-11-03
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i06.90744

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The Perceived Strengths and Weaknesses of Prevailing Counterterrorism Strategies in Prevention of Terrorism in Uganda

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