Speakers
Dennis Wamala
Dennis is a human rights activist working with sexual minorities in Canada, Uganda, and internationally.
Before fleeing Uganda, he was the Vice-Chair of the board of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and Director of Programs at Icebreakers Uganda.
Since arriving in Canada in January 2019, Dennis continues to run campaigns aiming at influencing public and legal opinions around LGBTQI+ people internationally. He is currently the Community Engagement Officer at Rainbow Railroad.
Brant Luswata
Luswata Brant is the Executive Director at Icebreakers Uganda. Brant has been advocating for the rights of LGBTI community in Uganda since 2009 first as a volunteer at the Hate No More Campaign Committee (hosted by Freedom and Roam Uganda), from there he moved to become an Active Volunteer at Icebreakers Uganda consequently being given a more permanent role as the Clinic and Resource Center Manager a role he fulfilled for six years before being named the Executive Director of the Organization. In addition to his activism work, in 2011 he joined The Key Correspondent team where he used to report on the health issues affecting his LGBTI community in Uganda an initiative of International HIV AIDS Alliance.
He also serves on Community Led Monitoring (Eryaka Lyabantu) Steering Committee representing the LGBT cluster which monitors the quality of HIV Services and Programing for Key Populations in Uganda under PEPFAR, Brant also serves on the Global Key populations HIV prevention Advisory Committee representing Africa which provides strategic guidance and recommendations on HIV prevention initiatives, policies and programs aimed at reducing the incidence of HIV infections among key population, Lastly Brant was voted to serve on the PAI executive Board to elevate the voices of LGBTIQ Community.
Brant is graduate with a university degree in Development Studies from the prestigious Kampala International University.
Peter Emmanuel Akakasiaka
Peter Emmanuel Akakasiaka is an accomplished human rights activist, gender justice advocate, and community development expert with over a decade of experience advancing the rights and health of marginalized populations in Nigeria and across West Africa. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Access to Health and Rights Development Initiative (AHRDI), a community-led organization dedicated to promoting human rights, health equity, and inclusion for LGBTIQ+ people and other vulnerable groups.
Peter currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Nigerian Key Populations Health and Rights Network (NKPHRN) and is the Country Champion for the South-South Learning Network, where he leads national-level policy engagement and movement-building initiatives. He is also a Research Associate at Montrose Place, Houston, Texas, and a member of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the Centre for Public Health Initiatives (CPHI). His past roles include serving as Co-Founder and former National Network Coordinator of the Network for Rights and Community Inclusion (NeRCI).
He holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Sussex, UK, and a Diploma in Public Health certified by Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a Diploma in Musicology, reflecting his creative interests beyond activism.
Peter was recognized internationally as a Youth Congress Delegate (2025) in Canada, where he received the Global Peace Ambassador Award from Voice for Rights International and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
As a lead consultant for ICARES Nigeria and a member of multiple shelter management committees, Peter brings expertise in research, advocacy, leadership development, and program management. His work has been instrumental in securing critical funding from organizations such as the Ford Foundation, Heartland Alliance, and the West African LGBTI Fund, enabling grassroots-driven solutions to stigma, discrimination, and public health challenges.
He is deeply committed to advancing intergenerational leadership, LGBTQI+ rights, and inclusive governance, with a belief that “injustice to one is an injustice to all.”
Sanyu Hajjara Batte
Sanyu Hajjara Batte is a Ugandan feminist, sex worker, and prominent human rights activist dedicated to advancing the dignity, health, and rights of sex workers. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Lady Mermaid Empowerment Centre (LMEC), a leading feminist, sex worker–led organization in Uganda that champions social justice, empowerment, and access to essential services for marginalized communities.
With over 17 years of experience in sex worker programming and movement building, Sanyu has played a pivotal role in shaping advocacy efforts around sexual and reproductive health, HIV response, and human rights protections for key populations. Her work is grounded in feminist principles and focuses on strengthening community-led responses, influencing policy, and promoting inclusive development.
Sanyu previously served as the representative of key populations on the Uganda Country Coordinating Mechanism from 2018 to 2022, where she contributed to national-level decision-making on health programming and resource allocation. She currently serves as the Board Chairperson of the African Sex Workers Alliance, providing strategic leadership and advancing regional advocacy initiatives.
Her expertise spans advocacy, leadership and corporate governance, strategic management, and feminist movement building. Through her work, Sanyu continues to amplify the voices of sex workers and drive transformative change at both national and regional levels.
Nakimuli Majorie
Most At Risk Population Initiative is an organisation established since 2008 to date. This is a non-government organisation providing HIV prevention, care and treatment services to populations which are commonly referred to as Key/Priority Populations. These populations are heavily burdened by HIV with a prevalence of over two to five times higher compared to the general population, as a consequence of deep- rooted stigma, discrimination, marginalization and social exclusion.
The interventions are funded by Global Fund among others. The organisation partners with KP led CSOs in different regions of Uganda and the aim is to continue to advocate for health rights among the marginalized populations. MARPI opened up Drop-in centres (DIC) in 24 health facilities and Regional Referral Hospitals to provide friendly and comprehensive services among KPs. Among the activities carried out that aims at promoting health Rights of KPs are creating an enabling environment for providing focused, targeted and tailored HIV interventions/ Programs. Building capacity by training health workers in different facilities, mentorship and support supervisions.
We also work as sub grantees to the KP led CSOs
Mr. Kato
Mr. Kato is a Laboratory Technologist and Healthcare Quality Improvement Professional affiliated with Kiruddu National Referral Hospital and the Uganda Inclusive Healthcare Forum, where he contributes to healthcare quality improvement initiatives focused on strengthening diagnostic services, laboratory systems, and healthcare service delivery for underserved and vulnerable communities in Uganda.
As part of the convention, Mr. Kato is expected to participate in professional knowledge exchange sessions focusing on healthcare systems, quality improvement, access to healthcare services, and healthcare-related human rights discussions affecting underserved populations within African healthcare settings.
The organizing committee considers Mr. Kato’s participation valuable due to his professional experience in laboratory systems strengthening, healthcare quality improvement, and community healthcare service delivery within Uganda.
Lukwata Roy
Lukwata Roy Gender Non Conforming Activist, Mental Health Advocate & Human Rights Defender, Uganda
Lukwata Roy is a 25-year-old bold gender non conforming activist and human rights defender based in Uganda. As a passionate voice for gender diversity and inclusion, Lukwata champions the rights of non-binary, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals while addressing the deep intersection between gender identity and mental health in Uganda.
In a country where mental health remains heavily stigmatized, under-resourced, and criminalized — particularly for gender-diverse persons — Lukwata works at the forefront of community-led initiatives that combine advocacy, safe-space creation, and awareness campaigns. Their work highlights how discriminatory laws, societal rejection, and lack of inclusive healthcare drive high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming Ugandans. Through storytelling, policy engagement, and grassroots organizing, Lukwata pushes for mental health to be recognized as a core human rights issue.
At the 4th Africa-Canada International Convention on Human Rights Promotion 2026, Lukwata Roy will speak on “Invisible Wounds: Mental Health, Gender Diversity, and Human Rights in Uganda”. They will share lived experiences, expose the gaps in Uganda’s mental health system, and propose practical strategies for African-Canadian collaboration to support inclusive mental health services and policy reform.
Lukwata brings a powerful youth perspective rooted in authenticity and resilience, believing that true human rights progress must address both legal protections and the emotional well-being of marginalized communities.
Ogbonna Shedrach Aloke
Ogbonna shedrach Aloke, a Non-Binary Queer from Eastern Nigeria. A dedicated and possionate human right activist whose work focuses on LGBTQI+ rights, Gender equality and social justice with a strong background in Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Advocacy and feminist movement. Particularly in the policy review, Healthcare implementation programs and human right services. Shedrach is committed to using data to drive positive change amongst marginalized communities.
Maria Grace Twikirize
I am a Ugandan social worker, human rights defender, and community organizer with an experience of over five years working with LGBTQIA+ and gender diverse people. I am currently working with I Freedom Uganda Network, a community organization in Uganda which support LGBTIQ and gender diverse people in navigating social barriers through networking and internet security approaches to advocacy, community building, empowerment and education.
My work focuses on human rights advocacy, community safety and protection, mental health and psychosocial support, emergency shelter coordination and support, leadership development, community organizing, linking community members to sexual and reproductive health and rights services and advancing the visibility and inclusion of marginalized communities navigating social, economic, and legal inequalities.
I am deeply passionate about community-led approaches that center lived experience, where communities are not just beneficiaries but active leaders in designing solutions.
Over the years, I have been involved in advocacy efforts challenging anti-LGBTQ laws and harmful anti-gender narratives, contributing to conversations around human rights, inclusion, and policy changes.