David Kaggwa is a seasoned legal practitioner with over two decades of experience in Uganda’s legal landscape. Since the inception of DefendDefenders in 2005, he has served on its board as Board Secretary, playing a key role in shaping its governance and legal compliance.

“I have seen thousands of people benefit from the grants and protection provided by DefendDefenders. Through my legal advisory role on the board, I’m able to give back to society by contributing to the support we offer to human rights defenders.” – David Kaggwa

In 2004, David Kaggwa completed his law degree at Makerere University and joined Kaggwa & Kaggwa Advocates. The firm represented a number of international organisations, including Amnesty International and the Red Cross Society, often providing legal services in areas of governance and labour disputes. It was through this work that David first met Hassan Shire in July 2005, during an Amnesty International meeting in Kololo, Kampala.

At the time, Hassan had just returned from Canada, where he had conducted research on the existing protection gaps for HRDs. During this meeting, Hassan shared his vision of establishing a regional organisation to protect human rights defenders, a concept that was still relatively unfamiliar in the region.

“Defending and protecting human rights defenders was a concept that I had not heard about, but Hassan elaborated at great length.  My duty basically at the time was to assist Hassan to register the organisation and to ensure that it complied with all laws of Uganda.”

That conversation marked the beginning of what would become DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project), with David playing a pivotal role in its legal establishment and long-term governance.

David took on the responsibility of registering the organisation in Uganda, navigating a complex and rigorous NGO registration process that required approvals from multiple local and national authorities.

In October 2005, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project officially received its registration license from the NGO Board in Uganda. Following the successful registration and incorporation of the organisation, David Kaggwa was appointed as Board Secretary, a position he has held ever since.

“I was retained on the board as the board secretary with the mandate mainly to ensure that my ears are on the ground about new laws that affect NGOs. And we’ve successfully done that for the last 20 years.”

His involvement has gone beyond legal setup and compliance. Over the years, David has evolved from legal advisor to passionate advocate for human rights defenders. He has offered direct legal support to at-risk journalists and lawyers, assisted exiled HRDs in registering organisations and acquiring refugee status.

“At the beginning, I could not fathom the kind of activities that were going to be undertaken. But over the years I have worked closely with various departments of DefendDefenders, most especially the protection department. And I have come to realise that several human rights defenders at risk, be it lawyers or journalists from all over Africa have benefited a lot from DefendDefenders.”

In 2010, David took on a role beyond his formal legal duties as Board Secretary, giving him a first-hand experience of the protection work that DefendDefenders undertakes. He accompanied the Protection Manager, to Fort Portal, where HRDs had been arrested. Through this experience, David witnessed the real-life risks that HRDs face and saw up close how DefendDefenders responds to those threats.

David is filled with a deep sense of gratitude as he reflects on the journey, he has been part of with DefendDefenders. Having walked alongside the organisation since its inception, he recognises the collective effort behind its longevity and impact.

“It’s not pride I feel, it’s gratitude. Gratitude to all who’ve contributed to this journey. The next 50 years will depend on how we nurture what we’ve built today.” – David Kaggwa

To him, the organisation’s future lies in building upon its strong foundation, ensuring that the mission to protect human rights defenders continues for generations to come.

David Kaggwa became a senior partner at Kaggwa & Kaggwa Advocates in 2008, specialising in Arbitration, Construction Law, and Commercial Litigation. Beyond his legal practice, David plays a prominent role in shaping legal and governance frameworks across various institutions. He offers strategic oversight and serves on multiple boards.

He is the Chairperson of the Uganda Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a globally recognised arbitration body founded in England in 1915, and a director on the board of its Kenya branch, which has been active for over four decades. Through his leadership in the arbitration space, David has trained over 300 professionals in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), making a significant contribution to the promotion of peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms in the region.

“The ripple effect is that these professionals will represent their clients in resolving disputes quicker.” – David Kaggwa