By Guy Feugap, Africa Organizer of World BEYOND War, February 1, 2026
For Norbert Byambo Kagosi, peacebuilding is not an abstract concept; it is actually a daily practice shaped by lived experience. A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Norbert was forced to flee his hometown as a young teenager due to war and insecurity. Like many others, he arrived in Uganda carrying the weight of loss, trauma, and uncertainty. Today, he stands as a chapter coordinator of World BEYOND War in Nakivale, working to transform conflict into dialogue, and trauma into collective healing.
The Nakivale Refugee Settlement is one of the oldest and largest refugee settlements in Africa, hosting people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and South Sudan. While this diversity holds immense potential for peace, it also presents challenges. Overcrowding, limited resources, cultural differences, and unresolved trauma have often fueled discrimination, mistrust, and conflict within the camp. Living in Nakivale for more than seven years, Norbert developed a deep commitment to youth, women, and children affected by violence and displacement. Rather than allowing diversity to become a source of division, he has been working to turn it into a foundation for peace, understanding, and coexistence.
Norbert is a co-founder, project manager, and coordinator of New Talent for the Best Future, a grassroots initiative dedicated to empowering refugees through education, conflict resolution, and leadership development. His journey from displacement to leadership reflects his transformation from a survivor of war to a trainer shaping future peacebuilders. A key turning point in this journey began when Norbert connected online with Dr. Francis Mpindu of Niigon Abin Consultancy Services. Together, they recognized that unresolved trauma and emotional distress were at the root of many conflicts in the settlement. They launched a program focused on emotional wellness, mental well-being, and conflict transformation.
Norbert created the Isingiro Nakivale chapter of World BEYOND War to break the cycle of violence and discrimination among refugees and promote peace education, nonviolence and mutual respect. The aim of chapter members is to send a strong message to African leaders to stop investing in war and weapons, and instead to fund peace education and nonviolent initiatives. By addressing the root causes of conflict, they hope to inspire a new generation of peacebuilders. Their main goals are to provide educational support to reduce illiteracy among orphans and vulnerable children, to offer education and vocational training for refugees and to help make the world a better and more inclusive place for all.
Through his work, Norbert has trained youth and women in conflict resolution skills, safe defense, peace education, women’s empowerment, and English language learning. Many of the children he works with have lost parents to war and lack access to formal education. For them, peace education is a tool for survival and hope. Fifteen community leaders were trained in conflict resolution and emotional healing. These leaders went on to train others, creating a ripple effect across the camp. Over time, dozens of women and youth participated in these training sessions, learning how to cope with trauma, manage anger, rebuild trust, and resolve disputes peacefully.
Nakivale faces complex social challenges: food shortages, limited opportunities, reduced monthly rations, lack of access to quality education, and growing numbers of street children. Youth often feel excluded from decision-making processes, further deepening frustration and hopelessness. Norbert’s work addresses these realities with dialogue, empathy, and skills-building. Graduations, certificates, and community training are symbols of restored dignity and renewed purpose.
Norbert Byambo Kagosi’s story embodies World BEYOND War’s work to mobilize people at the grassroots, invest in education and nonviolent alternatives to move beyond cycles of violence. His journey shows that refugees are more leaders, educators and agents of peace, than only victims of war. In Nakivale, peace begins in small training sessions, shared stories, healing conversations, and the courage to believe that even after the wars, another future must be possible.
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