The European Union Delegation in Uganda, together with the European Union Member States represented in Uganda and the Embassy of Norway, invites nominations for the 2023 EU Human Rights Defenders (HRD) Award.  The award, which is now in its 12^th year, is presented annually, to raise awareness of the work of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda.

What is the purpose of the award?

The award recognises the achievements of an individual Human Rights Defender who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in Uganda in the past year.

Who can submit nominations?

Individuals or organisations can nominate candidates for the EU HRD Award.  Nominations from human rights organisations active in Uganda are particularly welcome.  

What is a human rights defender?

Human Rights Defenders are people who promote and protect universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms using exclusively non-violent means. These include civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. Human Rights Defenders also promote and protect the rights of members of minority groups. The broad range of activities carried out by Human Rights Defenders can include the following:

• documenting and reporting human rights violations;
• seeking remedies for victims of human rights violations through the provision of legal, psychological, medical or other support;
• combating the culture of impunity which can hide systematic and repeated breaches of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• mainstreaming a human rights culture, and transmitting information about HRDs at the national, regional and international levels;
• advocacy for the respect of human rights.

How can I submit a nomination?

Nominations should be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]  

Nominations should be submitted using this NOMINATION FORM (below) and should be a maximum of one page in length.

The deadline for nominations for the 2023 EU HRD Awards is Friday 10^th March at 17:00 (EAT).

A shortlist of three candidates will be announced on 31^st March and the winner will be announced at a ceremony hosted by the Embassy of Belgium on 4^th May 2023.

Past winners of the EU HRD Award in Uganda:

• 2022: Primah Kwagala, a human rights lawyer, Chairperson of Female Lawyers in the Uganda Law Society and Executive Director of the Women's Probono Initiative (WPI),
• 2021: Rita Aciro, one of Uganda’s leading women’s rights advocates and the Executive Director of the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)
• 2020: Aimé Moninga who campaigns for victims of sexual violence during conflict and heads the organisation Men of Hope
• 2019: William Amanzuru who is an environmental protection activist and works with the Friends of Zoka Forest.
• 2018: (Joint Winners) Peter Sewakiryanga leads the Kyampisi Childcare Ministries, an organisation that supports children who have been victims of sacrificial practices and  Margaret Arach Orech, Founder and Director of the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA)
• 2017: Pamela Judith Angwech campaigns for the empowerment of women and youth and founded the Gulu Women Economic Development and Globalisation organisation.
• 2016: Robert Ssempala is an activist for media freedom and national coordinator at the Human Right Network for Journalists.
• 2015: Livingstone Ssewanyana, Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
• 2014 (Joint Winners) Gladys Canogura, Executive Director of Kitgum Women Peace Initiative; Christine Alalo, Head Uganda Police Child and Family Protection Unit; and Mohammed Ndifuna, Chief Executive Officer Human Rights Network Uganda
• 2013: Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala, founding Coordinator, the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ).
• 2012: Gerald Kankya, Programme Coordinator, the Twerwaneho Listeners Club (TLC) in Fort Portal.