Rwanda

Dr. Zahara Nampewo is a prominent Ugandan human rights lawyer, academic, and gender justice advocate with over two decades of experience in legal education, public interest litigation, and social justice. She currently serves as the Deputy Principal at the School of Law, Makerere University, and has been the Treasurer on the Board of DefendDefenders since 2019. Widely regarded as a thought leader across Africa, Dr. Nampewo is known for her expertise in academia, gender equality, access to justice, and governance.

Andrews Kananga’s long-standing relationship with DefendDefenders began in 2009, when he met Executive Director Hassan Shire and was invited to his first strategic meeting in Kampala, Uganda. That meeting marked the start of a strong collaboration rooted in a shared commitment to advancing human rights in the region. Over the years, Andrews has participated in numerous trainings and strategic convenings organised by DefendDefenders, deepening his expertise in areas such as human rights protection, digital security, and advocacy.
In 2012, he was elected by Rwandan human rights defenders to establish and lead the Rwanda Human Rights Defenders Network (RHRDN), a member of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network. As the Chairperson, he has worked closely with DefendDefenders on protection initiatives, needs assessments, and support for HRDs from both Rwanda and Burundi. In 2019, Andrew was recognised by DefendDefenders for his consistent contribution to the regional human rights movement.