According to the awarding team, Karamoja sub-region is home to many stories of resilience but few shine as brightly as that of Anna Lomonyang, a pastoralist, land rights defender, and the founder of Karamoja Special Children Hope Initiative based in Kangole Town Council.
An activist in Napak District, Anna Lomonyang, has emerged as the overall winner of Uganda's Human Rights Defenders Impact Awards 2024.
The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Uganda
announced Lomonyang as the outstanding human rights defender of 2024
during the commemoration of the International Human Rights Defenders Day at
Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala on Monday.
Lomonyang, a resident of Kangole Town Council in Napak District, Karamoja Sub Region, who walked away with a cash prize of two million shillings and an accolade, among other gifts, was declared the winner alongside 12
others who won different awards from each region in the county.
According to the awarding team, the Karamoja sub-region is home to many stories of resilience but few shine as brightly as that of Lomonyang, a pastoralist, land rights defender, and the founder of Karamoja
Special Children Hope Initiative based in Kangole Town Council.
Her effort was recognized because of her advocacy that goes
beyond inclusion, extending to the protection of land rights in a region often
plagued by land rights abuses. She has also become a fearless voice against
injustices perpetrated by powerful individuals, leading peaceful campaigns to
protect community land and empowering women and marginalized groups.
Through her efforts, over 640 women and 190 men have gained
knowledge of their land rights, while more than 3,000 community members have
been empowered through sensitization campaigns.
She has facilitated surgeries for children, provided 39
hearing aids, and delivered 27 wheelchairs, transforming the lives of children
often excluded from care and education.
By introducing local briquette-making from waste materials,
she has advanced sustainable practices to protect Karamoja’s fragile
environment. During the region's hunger crises, Lomonyang organized
feeding programs that served hundreds of children and elderly persons in
Karamoja.
Lomonyang was grateful for the award saying she did not know
that she was doing human rights defenders work where she urged everyone to be
mindful of one another’s rights.
// cue in “We defend rights…
Cue out…and collective achievement.”//
Robert Ssempala, the board vice
chairperson National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders-Uganda called on the Human Rights Defenders to shape the future together.
// cue in “Defending rights…
Cue out…defend other defenders.”//
Among the Other winners were Agnes
Acen, Geoffrey Otim, Juliet Ayoo, Simon Bikeke, and Henry Mukiibi.
Stephen Eligu
Freelancer