Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m James Magerere and I am a lawyer and a mediation trainer professionally.I do conflict resolution and I’m the current president at The Mediation Training Institute East Africa Association and The African Association Of Mediators(which constitutes all mediators in Africa).I am the governor at The International Academy Of Mediators and a board member at The International Mediation Institute Netherlands.

Where did your passion for mediation begin?

I started out as a lawyer but then I came to realize that the court process is costly, tedious, traumatizing,takes time and causes rifts in personal relationships. I wanted to look for a different way to resolve conflicts besides the court process.I then stumbled into mediation and I’ve never looked back. I went for training in Washington DC where I was trained by MTI International on conflict resolution and with time became a trainer. I have trained almost 6000 mediators.It is a process that works and I’m looking forward to educate the public on the matter.I’ve been training mediators all over the world.We train and give them international certifications which are accredited by international organizations such as The International Mediators Institute, Singapore International Mediation Institute and The International Academy Of Mediators.

Would you ever consider running for politics?

I like making peace and politics is not a cup of tea.Politicians thrive in chaos and I’m the opposite of that.

Wnere do you want to be in the next 10 years?

I want to make sure that communities live in peace and cohesion.

What does it take for someone to be a good mediator?

For you to be a good mediator you have to be an active listener,you have to be empathetic,you must be patient,you have to create rapport with both parties and create an environment where people can express themselves freely. I want us to promote community mediation in future people should try mediation first before going to court because it’s a good option.

What do you wish to achieve?

My goal is to ensure every county has a mediation centre and people can refer their disputes there instead of going to court. What would you like your legacy to be?I want to be remembered as a peace maker I want to leave a legacy of peace building in this country.

What are your social media handles?

On social media we are @icmc @mtieastafrica we are on Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn www.mtieastafrica.org you can get us there and learn about what we do not only in Africa but beyond.