Our Board
Discover the members of our board, learn about their roles and responsibilities, and explore their vision for UKPC’s future
Arnold Kwesiga
Board Chairman
Arnold Kwesiga
Board Chairman
Arnold Kwesiga is a Human Rights Advocate and academic with over 12 years’ experience working on forced migration issues, gender and sexuality, transitional justice, economic, social and cultural rights, business and human rights and corporate accountability. He currently manages the Business and Human Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa and also oversees the work of the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA), a 132-membership coalition, whose secretariat is hosted at the Centre for Human Rights. Arnold has also previously taught law at Cavendish University Uganda. Arnold is a member of the Corporate Accountability Working Group of the International Network on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), Member of the Free Prior and Informed Consent Working Group of the African Coalition of Corporate Accountability (ACCA), A member of the Network for Public Interest Lawyers in Uganda and; a Member of the Network for Public Interest Lawyers at Makerere University School of Law.. Arnold holds a Masters of Laws Degree (LLM) in International Human Rights Law (University of Notre Dame, USA), a Bachelor of Laws degree (Makerere University, Uganda) and a Diploma in Law (Law Development Centre, Uganda). He also has undertaken short courses and holds a number of advanced human rights certifications among others: Sustainable Development and Global Justice from the University of Antwerp, Strategic Litigation from Central European University and Business and Human Rights and the Right To Development from the University of Pretoria. Arnold has previously worked for Human Rights Watch (HRW), Centre for Policy Analysis (Parliament Watch) and the Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University. Arnold holds a great passion for general human rights discourse and social justice—enhancing the corporate responsibility to respect human rights of all people with a bias for marginalized communities.
Richard Lusimbo
Board Secretary
Richard Lusimbo
Board Secretary
Richard Smith Lusimbo is the Founder and Director General of The Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC). He is also the Board Secretary for the UKPC Board of Directors (BOD) and sits on the UKPC Board of Trustees (BOT). The Uganda Key Populations Consortium is a coalition of key population organisations and networks that brings together representatives of key populations to collectively define and advocate for issues of common concern, including response to shrinking civic space and resources for key population-led programming in Uganda.
Richard is a well-known and respected LGBTIQ+ and Human Rights activist across the African continent that hails from Uganda, East Africa. He started his activism in his early twenties and has been a trailblazer for young leadership in Uganda and beyond. Richard holds a Bachelor of Information Technology Degree from Uganda Christian University (UCU), a Master of Philosophy in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (MPhil HRDA) from the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa and an International Training Programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ITP) from Lund University in Sweden.
Richard is a passionate advocate for marginalised community voices to be present in policy, laws, national frameworks, working groups, committees, and all spaces where their human rights and health issues are discussed and documented. Before founding UKPC, Richard worked as the SMUG, Research and Documentation Manager at Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and Programs Manager at Pan-Africa ILGA (PAI). He also sits on a number of boards, governance spaces and technical working groups at national level, African level and Global levels.
Chris Paul Abaho
Board Member
Chris Paul Abaho
Board Member
Chris Paul Abaho is a 30-year-old Ugandan Social Worker, a Medical Lab Scientist and a
specialist in Harm Reduction and Gender Transformative Approaches based in Mbarara District, Western Uganda. He is the Founder and Team Leader of Harm Reduction and Reproductive Health Initiative (HRRHI) a KP-led CSO in Western Uganda that is committed to reducing drug-related harm as well as ; to champion and promote collective adoption of rights-based approaches to enable communities of Persons who Use and Inject Drugs (PWUIDs) to access health and social services. Am also Human Rights Activist and a KP Community Paralegal. ChrisPaul is also Chairperson BEC Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) Ankole Region (2022- 2025). And, for the last 10 years has been advocating for the rights of KPs in Western Uganda with the intention to increase access and availability of KP-friendly health services including HIV prevention and SRHR services. ChrisPaul is grateful that with joint efforts from different players they are recording some positive changes.
Morgan Martin Kanyike
Board Member
Morgan Martin Kanyike
Board Member
Morgan Martin Kanyike is the Executive Director of Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF) – an LGBTQ and male sex-worker-Led organization reaching out in the reduction of HIV/AIDS and STIs among LGBTQ, sex workers and MSM persons in Uganda while advocating for the protection of their rights and working towards their social wellbeing and economic empowerment. Morgan holds Diploma in Primary Education from the Institute of Teachers Education Kyambogo, Kyambogo University; Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering from International Institute of Business Management (IIBM) and; Grade 3 Teachers Primary Certificate from Kyamaganda Teachers Training College Masaka. In addition, Morgan has attended a cross range of trainings that include among others: Children’s Vision Uganda, Youth Initiatives, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), Trans support initiative-Uganda (TSI-UG), East and horn of Africa human rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP); Uganda Ministry of Health; Martus Human Rights Bulltin System Benetech; Sex Workers Academy Africa and Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU). He is also one of the first Peer Leaders trained by the Most-at-Risk Populations Initiative (MARPI).
Williams Apako
Board Vice Chairman
Williams Apako
Board Vice Chairman
Williams Apako is the Founder and Executive Director Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) a legally registered Company Limited by Guarantee advocating for human rights of Transgender and Gender Non- Conforming Persons in Uganda. Williams is a social worker with a background in Social Works and Social Sciences also bearing a diploma in Project Planning and Management. He is also studying Bachelors of Diplomacy and International Relations, a Cohort 14 Young African Leadership Initiative East Africa Alumni, A fellow of the Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship, a TOT on Gender and Sexual Diversity trained by USAID, a community Paralegal and an LGBTI rights defender. Williams has over 6 years’ experience serving the Gender and Sexual Minorities in Uganda and has worked as a consultant on Gender and Sexual Diversity and Public health advocate. Williams sits on the National Security Working Group a national LGBTI security response committee. He also serves on the TWG of Uganda AIDS Commission, Member OF the Key and Priority Populations (KPPP) Sub-Community Advisory Board of BAYLOR Uganda Centre of Excellence as well as member on the Amplify Change Grantee Reference Group. Previously, Williams has st on the MARPS Network Oversight Committee; contributed to the development of the WHO Guidelines on the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons as well as worked as a Project Assistant for the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CSCHRCL) which among others successfully challenged and ensured nullification of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Sandra Kwikiriza
Board Member
Sandra Kwikiriza
Board Member
Sandra Kwikiriza is a feminist who has several years of experience in human rights advocacy and activism, specifically focusing on LGBTQ and women’s rights. As a result of her expertise, community mapping and research, Sandra identified issues and gaps affecting (W)HRDs and the need for spaces and resources to promote the digital rights, safety and security needs of LBQ womxn and female sex workers, thus founding HER Internet. HER Internet is a womxn led feminist organisation that advocates for the digital rights and internet freedoms of women focusing on LBQ (lesbians, bisexual and queer) womxn and female sex workers. HER Internet has responded to high levels of cybercrime, increased surveillance by state and non-state actors, and online violence directed at womxn and LBTQ movements. Their programs focus on creating and providing safe spaces, rights-based training and advocacy through digital and in-person space-holding. Their ways of working reflect strong organization and accountability among their small team and a solid commitment to building connectively across digital feminist movements. HER Internet is working within the Feminist Principles of the Internet to advocate for development and use of technologies that challenge sexism and discrimination on the bases of self-determination and as influenced by feminist principles and queer theory. She has served on several boards and committees such as: The Global Fund Advisory Committee for Mama Cash; the META Women’s Working Group for Sub-Saharan Africa and The Pan Africa ILGA Board where she is serving her second term of office. Sandra also sits on the Steering Committee for the Digital Security Alliance as the Vice Chairperson.
Isaac has recently become the Program Officer -Movement Building, Kp Coordination and Partnerships having served as the Safety and Security focal point for Uganda Key Populations Consortium. Previously he worked with Spectrum Uganda Initiatives for 5years as the Advocacy and Communications Director and grants assistant at UHAI-Eashri in Nairobi Isaac’s vision is to live in a Uganda that respects Human Rights for all.
Daniel Kigonya (Kelly Mukwano)
Board Member
Daniel Kigonya (Kelly Mukwano)
Board Member
Daniel Kigonya (Kelly Mukwano) is the Executive Director for i freedom Uganda Network and the Ex-Chairperson of Uganda Key Population Consortium Steering Committee until recently was the Secretary for Gender and disability at the ISOC-UG Executive Committee. He contributed to the development of the feminist principles on the Net with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). He has led digital security training for over 1000 sexual and gender minorities in Uganda since the year 2013. His past experience includes working as a program assistant for the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. He currently serves on several Boards or organizations including for the Environmental Protection Trust Uganda where he is the current Chairperson. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the Gaba-based Kampala University - The Original. Kelly was the first Chairperson of the UKPC Steering Committee, is currently the Board Chairperson of Men of the Night and Vice Chair of Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy (OGERA Uganda), Financial Comptroller of Digital Security Alliance, Member of the Keep it On Coalition and Member of Digital Rights EDs. He has previously served on the UN High Level Panel on Digital Integration and is a former Chairperson of MARPS Network Oversight Committee. Kelly was also part of the Development of the Digital Security Curriculum for Uganda where he championed the addition of LGBTIQ contextualized concepts and solutions.
Nana Millers
Board Member
Nana Millers
Board Member
Nana Millers is an unapologetic rural transgender youth woman activist and trans sex worker with a quite strong experience in transgender and gender diverse activism and an extensive history of advocacy on transgender and gender diverse rights in Uganda. Nana is the Founder and Executive Director of the Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda a rural transgender youth woman, transgender youth sex workers and gender diverse led organization in Western Uganda that strives to advance, protect and promote rights of rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers and gender diverse youth. Nana is well equipped with knowledge and information about laws, human and health rights and it has enabled her to transform into a skilled and knowledgeable individual/activist who is willingly serve the community regardless of the harsh and cruel environment they live in. Nana’s core advocacy objectives and passion include: (i). De-criminalise sex work; (ii). Advocate for universal health care for transgender individuals; (iii). Amplify the voices of transgender youth and transgender youth sex workers; (iv). Oppose human rights violations including coercive programming, testing, and forced rehabilitation; (v). Destigmatise sex work and; (iv). Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers. Nana has been vocal about the needs and issues of transgender and gender diverse communities in various spaces such as the Youth Council – a platform that brings the unique reality of adolescents and young people in all their diversities to the attention of the Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis (GFATM). She has also been part of leading training institutes and where she has acquired in-depth knowledge, expertise and is an alumnus of: The Action Lab, The Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) and CREA’s Feminist Movement Building and Rights Institute (FLMBaRI).
Macklean Kyomya
Board Treasurer
Macklean Kyomya
Board Treasurer
Macklean Kyomya is a passionate female sex worker feminist and human rights champion of decriminalization of sex work, gender equality, integration of HIV/SRHR/TB/Gender Based Violence (GBV)/Mental health and harm reduction interventions; including access to preventive biomedical innovations and post abortion care services. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) an an umbrella network of grass-root Female Sex Worker led-organizations in Uganda, established in 2015 to respond to FSW’s SRHR needs, HIV related stigma and discrimination, promote meaningful involvement, collective organizing to strengthen a vibrant, unified, resilient and sustainable grassroot feminist FSWs movement that advocates for decriminalization of sex work, access to safe abortion, social protection and economic justice for female sex workers including those with multiple, compounded and intersecting vulnerabilities and their children in Uganda. Before founding AWAC, Macklean was one of the founding members of these great initiatives; Women's Organization Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA), Uganda Harm Reduction Network (UHRN), Uganda Harmonized Rights Alliance (HRA) which evolved and registered as Uganda Network of Key Populations Services Organisations (UNESO), the Uganda Key Population Consortium (UKPC), the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and the African Key Population Expert Group (AKPEG). She is an award winner in recognition of her remarkable contribution in the founding and grounding of the Human Rights Awareness & Promotion Forum 2008-2018; and also an award winner in appreciation for running the best Drop in Center (DIC) and good work for the community of Key Populations in Uganda by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)/Uganda Key Population Consortium (UKPC). Macklean was celebrated for her selfless efforts in the National and Global HIV response by Uganda National AIDS Services Organisations (UNASO) and; has inspired, nurtured/mentored emerging leaders and supported the establishment of several grassroot sex workers led CBOs/organisations Uganda. Macklean also sits on several Committees, Technical Working Groups & Boards providing technical support & guidance both on Government and Non-Governmental Organisations/CBOs at Community, National & Regional levels. She is also an active trailblazer of mainstreaming intersectionality programming for female sex workers with multiple, compounded and intersecting vulnerabilities –specifically FSWs with disabilities; FSWs Using or Injecting drugs; FSWs operating in Slums and landing sites; FSWs living with HIV; Refugees/Migrant FSWs in & out of the settlements; Indigenous FSWs, Aging FSWs; AGYW engaging in sex work; Children of FSWs & those surviving in sex work settings in Uganda. Macklean holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and Social Administration from….
Asia Russell
Board Member
Asia Russell
Board Member
Asia Russell is the Executive Director of Health GAP (Health Access Project). Health GAP is an international advocacy organization founded in 1999, dedicated to ensuring that all people living with HIV have access to life-saving medicines, that there is sufficient funding to ensure access, and that treatment programs deliver quality care. Asia has been a leader in the fight against HIV for over 20 years, first as a community organizer and treatment activist in Philadelphia, and ultimately as part of the group who founded Health GAP in 1999, serving as our Director of International Policy until 2014. Asia is a 2008 recipient of the Keith Cylar Courage Award from Housing Works, the 2010 Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award from Philadelphia FIGHT, the 2011 John M. Lloyd Leadership Award, and an award in 2011 from The AIDS Service Organization (TASO), Uganda for her exceptional contribution as an AIDS activist. As Executive Director, Asia is responsible for strengthening and expanding Health GAP’s programmatic work, including in East and Southern Africa, while continuing to lead international policy campaigns that secure real change for communities. She is currently based in Kampala, Uganda, where she works with a coalition of local human rights, HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTI organizations and other allies to win bold action by the Ugandan and donor governments on AIDS and health funding and policies, fight homophobic and stigmatizing laws, and to build the capacity of activist and other civil society networks.
Daisy Namakula Nakato
Board Member
Daisy Namakula Nakato
Board Member
is the National Coordinator of The Uganda Network of Sex Worker-Led Organizations (UNESO) – the umbrella body by sex workers for sex workers in their diversities that brings together all sex worker-led organisations and small groups in Uganda. UNESO was established in 2015 with a countrywide mandate to provide a systematic and all-inclusive coordination for sex work organizations and support groups in order to play advocacy, policy and decision-making roles in the sex work movement. Previously, Daisy has worked with Women’s Organisation Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA) as a Sex Worker Advocacy and Media coordinator where, she was responsible for reaching out to stakeholders, law makers and the media to advocate for sex workers’ human and health rights to ensure that the sex workers have access to the necessary services, information and spaces for their well-being and capacity.
Shamilah Batte
Board Member
Shamilah Batte
Board Member
Shamilah Batte is a Sex Worker, Queer, Intersectional Feminist, Human Rights Activist and Defender, Rwandese by Origin and Ugandan by Nationality. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy (OGERA Uganda) which exists to promote health and human rights of female sex workers with a main focus on LBQ and Urban Refugees living and working in Uganda. She is very instrumental and passionate about advocating for the recognition, inclusion and meaningful involvement of LBQ and Urban Refugee sex workers at different levels. She has been recognized and participated in various strategic and decision-making platforms such as the UN Spotlight Initiative’s Civil Society Global Reference Group, Peer Grants Committee (PGC) for UHAI EASHRI, Global Fund Oversight Committee-MARPS Network, Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism Electoral Committee among others. She has also coordinated Uganda Harmonized Rights Alliance (UHRA) which was the first sex worker movement coordinating network that later transformed into UNESO. She is a co-founder and current board Chairperson of Uganda Network of Sex worker-led Organizations (UNESO) which coordinates the sex worker led organizations in Uganda the same network that she has also voluntarily coordinated in the past. She has over 10 years of experience working in the diverse sex worker movement and further represents sex workers in their diversity on different strategic committees at both national, regional and global levels. She has further been part of various boards for Key population led organizations such as Women Organisation Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA), Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA), Transgender Equality Uganda (TEU) etc. She is very instrumental when it comes to cross movement building as has continued to support the establishment and growth of various LGBTIQ+ and Sex worker organizations in Uganda and beyond. Her goal is to ensure that all sex workers regardless of their different sexual orientations, gender identities, origin or nationality are treated with dignity and humanity.
Our Board
Discover the members of our board, learn about their roles and responsibilities, and explore their vision for UKPC’s future
Arnold Kwesiga
Board Chairman
Arnold Kwesiga
Board Chairman
Arnold Kwesiga is a Human Rights Advocate and academic with over 12 years’ experience working on forced migration issues, gender and sexuality, transitional justice, economic, social and cultural rights, business and human rights and corporate accountability. He currently manages the Business and Human Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa and also oversees the work of the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA), a 132-membership coalition, whose secretariat is hosted at the Centre for Human Rights. Arnold has also previously taught law at Cavendish University Uganda. Arnold is a member of the Corporate Accountability Working Group of the International Network on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), Member of the Free Prior and Informed Consent Working Group of the African Coalition of Corporate Accountability (ACCA), A member of the Network for Public Interest Lawyers in Uganda and; a Member of the Network for Public Interest Lawyers at Makerere University School of Law.. Arnold holds a Masters of Laws Degree (LLM) in International Human Rights Law (University of Notre Dame, USA), a Bachelor of Laws degree (Makerere University, Uganda) and a Diploma in Law (Law Development Centre, Uganda). He also has undertaken short courses and holds a number of advanced human rights certifications among others: Sustainable Development and Global Justice from the University of Antwerp, Strategic Litigation from Central European University and Business and Human Rights and the Right To Development from the University of Pretoria. Arnold has previously worked for Human Rights Watch (HRW), Centre for Policy Analysis (Parliament Watch) and the Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University. Arnold holds a great passion for general human rights discourse and social justice—enhancing the corporate responsibility to respect human rights of all people with a bias for marginalized communities.
Williams Apako
Board Vice Chairman
Williams Apako
Board Vice Chairman
Williams Apako is the Founder and Executive Director Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) a legally registered Company Limited by Guarantee advocating for human rights of Transgender and Gender Non- Conforming Persons in Uganda. Williams is a social worker with a background in Social Works and Social Sciences also bearing a diploma in Project Planning and Management. He is also studying Bachelors of Diplomacy and International Relations, a Cohort 14 Young African Leadership Initiative East Africa Alumni, A fellow of the Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship, a TOT on Gender and Sexual Diversity trained by USAID, a community Paralegal and an LGBTI rights defender. Williams has over 6 years’ experience serving the Gender and Sexual Minorities in Uganda and has worked as a consultant on Gender and Sexual Diversity and Public health advocate. Williams sits on the National Security Working Group a national LGBTI security response committee. He also serves on the TWG of Uganda AIDS Commission, Member OF the Key and Priority Populations (KPPP) Sub-Community Advisory Board of BAYLOR Uganda Centre of Excellence as well as member on the Amplify Change Grantee Reference Group. Previously, Williams has st on the MARPS Network Oversight Committee; contributed to the development of the WHO Guidelines on the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons as well as worked as a Project Assistant for the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CSCHRCL) which among others successfully challenged and ensured nullification of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Macklean Kyomya
Board Treasurer
Macklean Kyomya
Board Treasurer
Macklean Kyomya is a passionate female sex worker feminist and human rights champion of decriminalization of sex work, gender equality, integration of HIV/SRHR/TB/Gender Based Violence (GBV)/Mental health and harm reduction interventions; including access to preventive biomedical innovations and post abortion care services. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) an an umbrella network of grass-root Female Sex Worker led-organizations in Uganda, established in 2015 to respond to FSW’s SRHR needs, HIV related stigma and discrimination, promote meaningful involvement, collective organizing to strengthen a vibrant, unified, resilient and sustainable grassroot feminist FSWs movement that advocates for decriminalization of sex work, access to safe abortion, social protection and economic justice for female sex workers including those with multiple, compounded and intersecting vulnerabilities and their children in Uganda. Before founding AWAC, Macklean was one of the founding members of these great initiatives; Women's Organization Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA), Uganda Harm Reduction Network (UHRN), Uganda Harmonized Rights Alliance (HRA) which evolved and registered as Uganda Network of Key Populations Services Organisations (UNESO), the Uganda Key Population Consortium (UKPC), the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and the African Key Population Expert Group (AKPEG). She is an award winner in recognition of her remarkable contribution in the founding and grounding of the Human Rights Awareness & Promotion Forum 2008-2018; and also an award winner in appreciation for running the best Drop in Center (DIC) and good work for the community of Key Populations in Uganda by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)/Uganda Key Population Consortium (UKPC). Macklean was celebrated for her selfless efforts in the National and Global HIV response by Uganda National AIDS Services Organisations (UNASO) and; has inspired, nurtured/mentored emerging leaders and supported the establishment of several grassroot sex workers led CBOs/organisations Uganda. Macklean also sits on several Committees, Technical Working Groups & Boards providing technical support & guidance both on Government and Non-Governmental Organisations/CBOs at Community, National & Regional levels. She is also an active trailblazer of mainstreaming intersectionality programming for female sex workers with multiple, compounded and intersecting vulnerabilities –specifically FSWs with disabilities; FSWs Using or Injecting drugs; FSWs operating in Slums and landing sites; FSWs living with HIV; Refugees/Migrant FSWs in & out of the settlements; Indigenous FSWs, Aging FSWs; AGYW engaging in sex work; Children of FSWs & those surviving in sex work settings in Uganda. Macklean holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and Social Administration from….
Richard Lusimbo
Board Secretary
Richard Lusimbo
Board Secretary
Richard Smith Lusimbo is the Founder and Director General of The Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC). He is also the Board Secretary for the UKPC Board of Directors (BOD) and sits on the UKPC Board of Trustees (BOT). The Uganda Key Populations Consortium is a coalition of key population organisations and networks that brings together representatives of key populations to collectively define and advocate for issues of common concern, including response to shrinking civic space and resources for key population-led programming in Uganda.
Richard is a well-known and respected LGBTIQ+ and Human Rights activist across the African continent that hails from Uganda, East Africa. He started his activism in his early twenties and has been a trailblazer for young leadership in Uganda and beyond. Richard holds a Bachelor of Information Technology Degree from Uganda Christian University (UCU), a Master of Philosophy in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (MPhil HRDA) from the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa and an International Training Programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ITP) from Lund University in Sweden.
Richard is a passionate advocate for marginalised community voices to be present in policy, laws, national frameworks, working groups, committees, and all spaces where their human rights and health issues are discussed and documented. Before founding UKPC, Richard worked as the SMUG, Research and Documentation Manager at Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and Programs Manager at Pan-Africa ILGA (PAI). He also sits on a number of boards, governance spaces and technical working groups at national, African and Global levels respectively.
Sandra Kwikiriza
Board Member
Sandra Kwikiriza
Board Member
Sandra Kwikiriza is a feminist who has several years of experience in human rights advocacy and activism, specifically focusing on LGBTQ and women’s rights. As a result of her expertise, community mapping and research, Sandra identified issues and gaps affecting (W)HRDs and the need for spaces and resources to promote the digital rights, safety and security needs of LBQ womxn and female sex workers, thus founding HER Internet. HER Internet is a womxn led feminist organisation that advocates for the digital rights and internet freedoms of women focusing on LBQ (lesbians, bisexual and queer) womxn and female sex workers. HER Internet has responded to high levels of cybercrime, increased surveillance by state and non-state actors, and online violence directed at womxn and LBTQ movements. Their programs focus on creating and providing safe spaces, rights-based training and advocacy through digital and in-person space-holding. Their ways of working reflect strong organization and accountability among their small team and a solid commitment to building connectively across digital feminist movements. HER Internet is working within the Feminist Principles of the Internet to advocate for development and use of technologies that challenge sexism and discrimination on the bases of self-determination and as influenced by feminist principles and queer theory. She has served on several boards and committees such as: The Global Fund Advisory Committee for Mama Cash; the META Women’s Working Group for Sub-Saharan Africa and The Pan Africa ILGA Board where she is serving her second term of office. Sandra also sits on the Steering Committee for the Digital Security Alliance as the Vice Chairperson.
Isaac has recently become the Program Officer -Movement Building, Kp Coordination and Partnerships having served as the Safety and Security focal point for Uganda Key Populations Consortium. Previously he worked with Spectrum Uganda Initiatives for 5years as the Advocacy and Communications Director and grants assistant at UHAI-Eashri in Nairobi Isaac’s vision is to live in a Uganda that respects Human Rights for all.
Asia Russell
Board Member
Asia Russell
Board Member
Asia Russell is the Executive Director of Health GAP (Health Access Project). Health GAP is an international advocacy organization founded in 1999, dedicated to ensuring that all people living with HIV have access to life-saving medicines, that there is sufficient funding to ensure access, and that treatment programs deliver quality care. Asia has been a leader in the fight against HIV for over 20 years, first as a community organizer and treatment activist in Philadelphia, and ultimately as part of the group who founded Health GAP in 1999, serving as our Director of International Policy until 2014. Asia is a 2008 recipient of the Keith Cylar Courage Award from Housing Works, the 2010 Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award from Philadelphia FIGHT, the 2011 John M. Lloyd Leadership Award, and an award in 2011 from The AIDS Service Organization (TASO), Uganda for her exceptional contribution as an AIDS activist. As Executive Director, Asia is responsible for strengthening and expanding Health GAP’s programmatic work, including in East and Southern Africa, while continuing to lead international policy campaigns that secure real change for communities. She is currently based in Kampala, Uganda, where she works with a coalition of local human rights, HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTI organizations and other allies to win bold action by the Ugandan and donor governments on AIDS and health funding and policies, fight homophobic and stigmatizing laws, and to build the capacity of activist and other civil society networks.
Chris Paul Abaho
Board Member
Chris Paul Abaho
Board Member
Chris Paul Abaho is a 30-year-old Ugandan Social Worker, a Medical Lab Scientist and a
specialist in Harm Reduction and Gender Transformative Approaches based in Mbarara District, Western Uganda. He is the Founder and Team Leader of Harm Reduction and Reproductive Health Initiative (HRRHI) a KP-led CSO in Western Uganda that is committed to reducing drug-related harm as well as ; to champion and promote collective adoption of rights-based approaches to enable communities of Persons who Use and Inject Drugs (PWUIDs) to access health and social services. Am also Human Rights Activist and a KP Community Paralegal. ChrisPaul is also Chairperson BEC Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) Ankole Region (2022- 2025). And, for the last 10 years has been advocating for the rights of KPs in Western Uganda with the intention to increase access and availability of KP-friendly health services including HIV prevention and SRHR services. ChrisPaul is grateful that with joint efforts from different players they are recording some positive changes.
Daniel Kigonya (Kelly Mukwano)
Board Member
Daniel Kigonya (Kelly Mukwano)
Board Member
Daniel Kigonya (Kelly Mukwano) is the Executive Director for i freedom Uganda Network and the Ex-Chairperson of Uganda Key Population Consortium Steering Committee until recently was the Secretary for Gender and disability at the ISOC-UG Executive Committee. He contributed to the development of the feminist principles on the Net with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). He has led digital security training for over 1000 sexual and gender minorities in Uganda since the year 2013. His past experience includes working as a program assistant for the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. He currently serves on several Boards or organizations including for the Environmental Protection Trust Uganda where he is the current Chairperson. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the Gaba-based Kampala University - The Original. Kelly was the first Chairperson of the UKPC Steering Committee, is currently the Board Chairperson of Men of the Night and Vice Chair of Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy (OGERA Uganda), Financial Comptroller of Digital Security Alliance, Member of the Keep it On Coalition and Member of Digital Rights EDs. He has previously served on the UN High Level Panel on Digital Integration and is a former Chairperson of MARPS Network Oversight Committee. Kelly was also part of the Development of the Digital Security Curriculum for Uganda where he championed the addition of LGBTIQ contextualized concepts and solutions.
Daisy Namakula Nakato
Board Member
Daisy Namakula Nakato
Board Member
is the National Coordinator of The Uganda Network of Sex Worker-Led Organizations (UNESO) – the umbrella body by sex workers for sex workers in their diversities that brings together all sex worker-led organisations and small groups in Uganda. UNESO was established in 2015 with a countrywide mandate to provide a systematic and all-inclusive coordination for sex work organizations and support groups in order to play advocacy, policy and decision-making roles in the sex work movement. Previously, Daisy has worked with Women’s Organisation Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA) as a Sex Worker Advocacy and Media coordinator where, she was responsible for reaching out to stakeholders, law makers and the media to advocate for sex workers’ human and health rights to ensure that the sex workers have access to the necessary services, information and spaces for their well-being and capacity.
Morgan Martin Kanyike
Board Member
Morgan Martin Kanyike
Board Member
Morgan Martin Kanyike is the Executive Director of Youth on Rock Foundation (YRF) – an LGBTQ and male sex-worker-Led organization reaching out in the reduction of HIV/AIDS and STIs among LGBTQ, sex workers and MSM persons in Uganda while advocating for the protection of their rights and working towards their social wellbeing and economic empowerment. Morgan holds Diploma in Primary Education from the Institute of Teachers Education Kyambogo, Kyambogo University; Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering from International Institute of Business Management (IIBM) and; Grade 3 Teachers Primary Certificate from Kyamaganda Teachers Training College Masaka. In addition, Morgan has attended a cross range of trainings that include among others: Children’s Vision Uganda, Youth Initiatives, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), Trans support initiative-Uganda (TSI-UG), East and horn of Africa human rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP); Uganda Ministry of Health; Martus Human Rights Bulltin System Benetech; Sex Workers Academy Africa and Human Rights Centre Uganda (HRCU). He is also one of the first Peer Leaders trained by the Most-at-Risk Populations Initiative (MARPI).
Nana Millers
Board Member
Nana Millers
Board Member
Nana Millers is an unapologetic rural transgender youth woman activist and trans sex worker with a quite strong experience in transgender and gender diverse activism and an extensive history of advocacy on transgender and gender diverse rights in Uganda. Nana is the Founder and Executive Director of the Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda a rural transgender youth woman, transgender youth sex workers and gender diverse led organization in Western Uganda that strives to advance, protect and promote rights of rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers and gender diverse youth. Nana is well equipped with knowledge and information about laws, human and health rights and it has enabled her to transform into a skilled and knowledgeable individual/activist who is willingly serve the community regardless of the harsh and cruel environment they live in. Nana’s core advocacy objectives and passion include: (i). De-criminalise sex work; (ii). Advocate for universal health care for transgender individuals; (iii). Amplify the voices of transgender youth and transgender youth sex workers; (iv). Oppose human rights violations including coercive programming, testing, and forced rehabilitation; (v). Destigmatise sex work and; (iv). Advocate for the economic empowerment and social inclusion of sex workers. Nana has been vocal about the needs and issues of transgender and gender diverse communities in various spaces such as the Youth Council – a platform that brings the unique reality of adolescents and young people in all their diversities to the attention of the Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis (GFATM). She has also been part of leading training institutes and where she has acquired in-depth knowledge, expertise and is an alumnus of: The Action Lab, The Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) and CREA’s Feminist Movement Building and Rights Institute (FLMBaRI).
Shamilah Batte
Board Member
Shamilah Batte
Board Member
Shamilah Batte is a Sex Worker, Queer, Intersectional Feminist, Human Rights Activist and Defender, Rwandese by Origin and Ugandan by Nationality. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy (OGERA Uganda) which exists to promote health and human rights of female sex workers with a main focus on LBQ and Urban Refugees living and working in Uganda. She is very instrumental and passionate about advocating for the recognition, inclusion and meaningful involvement of LBQ and Urban Refugee sex workers at different levels. She has been recognized and participated in various strategic and decision-making platforms such as the UN Spotlight Initiative’s Civil Society Global Reference Group, Peer Grants Committee (PGC) for UHAI EASHRI, Global Fund Oversight Committee-MARPS Network, Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism Electoral Committee among others. She has also coordinated Uganda Harmonized Rights Alliance (UHRA) which was the first sex worker movement coordinating network that later transformed into UNESO. She is a co-founder and current board Chairperson of Uganda Network of Sex worker-led Organizations (UNESO) which coordinates the sex worker led organizations in Uganda the same network that she has also voluntarily coordinated in the past. She has over 10 years of experience working in the diverse sex worker movement and further represents sex workers in their diversity on different strategic committees at both national, regional and global levels. She has further been part of various boards for Key population led organizations such as Women Organisation Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA), Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA), Transgender Equality Uganda (TEU) etc. She is very instrumental when it comes to cross movement building as has continued to support the establishment and growth of various LGBTIQ+ and Sex worker organizations in Uganda and beyond. Her goal is to ensure that all sex workers regardless of their different sexual orientations, gender identities, origin or nationality are treated with dignity and humanity.