Ugandan activist wins international award

Jul 16, 2015

Obed Kabanda, a leading Ugandan human rights activist, has been recognized in the US for his activism.


By John Agaba

Obed Kabanda, a leading Ugandan human rights activist, has been recognized in the US for his unmatched commitment to empowering youth, men, and women in East and Southern Africa.


Kabanda is the founder and executive director of the Action for Community Development (ACODEV), a non-governmental organization spearheading the use of innovative solutions to improve human rights, contain HIV/AIDS, and to afford every woman and child better reproductive and child health.

During the Annual Segal Family Foundation (SFF) Awards Ceremony in New York, USA, on July 9, Kabanda won the foundation’s prestigious “Angel for Africa” award.

SFF is an international organisation that supports over 200 African and international NGOs that advance adolescent sexual and reproductive health to improve access to quality education and youth employment.

The function in New York was attended by over 200 of SFF’s partners and the over 180 African NGO’s the foundation supports.

Kabanda was given the “Angel of Africa” award. This recognizes individuals who build communities and serve as resource for others.

He was recognised for training, mentoring and coaching young leaders and managers in the region. He built their capacity in areas of fundraising, board governance, financial management, and strategy development.

Kabanda founded ACODEV in 2003. The NGO has grown and extends its work to Rwanda, Eastern Congo, and Malawi.
 


Obed Kabanda (left) and Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) founder Humphrey Nabimanya. (Credit: Matt Stauble)
 

Receiving the award, Kabanda said: “We believe all human beings should be empowered to realize their full potential as productive, engaged citizens. We believe that it is communities who know best the problems they face and, as such, they are the best actors to solve such problems.”

Educated in the US, Kabanda returned to Uganda where he started ACODEV to empower members of society regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status.

Recognizing the need for resources for young people and training opportunities for leaders, Kabanda and his team have established the Africa Centre for Leadership Development (ACLED).

ACLED will run short, tailored fellowship programmes on leadership and governance for development throughout the region.
 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});