Patrick Kumi

Born in South Sudan, Kumi fled to Uganda in 2016 as a child escaping conflict. This early experience shaped his lifelong dedication to refugee rights and youth empowerment. He holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in Human Rights, Peace & Humanitarian Intervention and another in Business (Marketing Major). He is the Founder, of Similar Ground an initiative to create safe, inclusive spaces where refugee children and youth can play, learn and grow together. He partners with international NGOs to influence refugee policy, ensuring meaningful youth and child participation. Kumi has represented young refugees at conferences and forums at the local, national, regional, and international including the speaking at the United Nations pushing for direct involvement of refugee youth in decision-making.

Children in Bar Kawach, Barlonyo, northern Uganda, where Trócaire's livelihood programme is helping farmers rebuild their lives after years of conflict in the region.

Beyond Compliance Symposium: Recommitting to Compliance and Restraint to Reverse the Unprecedented Trends of Harm and Need Experienced by Children in Armed Conflict

By Bethany Ellis and Patrick Kumi / June 19, 2025

This post forms part of phase two of the Beyond Compliance Symposium: How to Prevent Harm and Need in Conflict, hosted by the Armed Groups and International Law blog. The introductory post can be found here. The symposium invites reflection on the conceptualisation of negative everyday lived experiences of armed conflict, and legal and extra-legal …

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