Tom Balemesa has more than eight years experience in Uganda in training, research, evaluation, teaching, consultancy and peace building. After graduating from Makerere University with a B.A in Education, he worked as a teacher and departmental head. Since 2005, he engaged in research, project planning, evaluation and consulting with non-profit organizations like Plan International, where he served as a research assistant and consultant during the mid-term review and provided expertise for a household survey. In 2007, he volunteered with the Commonwealth Foundation and Single Parents Association in 2007. In 2008, World Vision International involved him in training their staff on conflict tools. Tom conducted independent seminal investigations on oil and land in Uganda for his M.A thesis. He promoted energy security and sustainable development through policy research and advocacy with the Africa Institute of Energy Governance. Tom graduated with an M.A in Peace and Conflict studies from Makerere University in 2010. In early 2010, Tom became the first junior fellow at the Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in South Africa. At ACCORD, he developed a peace and development foundation to assist in linking peace to development in Uganda. Tom is an active member of the peace and collaborative development network (www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org). Recently, with the East African Institute of Governance and Conflict Management (EAIGCM), Tom trained journalists in Uganda about Peace Journalism.
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Host Organization: U.S. Peace Corps