Patience Nabukalu: Leading the Fight for Climate, Biodiversity, and Human Rights
By BigEyeUg Team
Name: Patience Nabukalu
Date of Birth: June 15, 1997
Place of Birth: Kampala, Uganda
Contact: nabukalupatience@gmail.com
Phone: +256705132117
Social media: Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn
Profile
Patience Nabukalu is a dedicated climate, biodiversity, gender, and human rights activist from Uganda. As the leader of Fridays for Future Uganda, she has championed the voices of women and marginalized communities in the Global South who are disproportionately affected by climate change. Her work emphasizes the need for those most impacted by environmental crises to be at the forefront of the solutions.
Patience has played a pivotal role in grassroots campaigns, notably leading efforts against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Her activism contributed to convincing several key investors to withdraw their support for the project after strategic advocacy and negotiations.
Her passion for climate justice is rooted in a belief in equity and representation, and she frequently raises local issues on international platforms. Patience has a wealth of experience in program coordination, advocacy, and grassroots mobilization, and is committed to advancing the empowerment of African women in the global fight against climate injustice.
Advocacy and NGO Roles
International Advocate and Organizer, Fridays for Future (Apr 2020 – Present)
Coordinator, Fridays for Future Uganda (Apr 2020 – Jan 2023)
Advocate, Fridays for Future Africa and MAPA (Jan 2023 – Present)
Campaigner, Climate Action Network (Oct 2023)
Campaigner, Avaaz (STOP EACOP) (May 2023 – Jul 2023)
Campaigner, 350.org (Jun 2023)
Key Campaigns
STOP EACOP Campaign (2021 – Present) See: globaljustice.org, greanpeace.org, Byline Times, Vimeo, or Instagram
INSURE OUR FUTURE Campaign (Oct 2023) See: Byline Times or global.insure-our-future.com
Founder, STOP WETLAND DEGRADATION Campaign (Apr 2020 – Present) See: this or this instagram post.
Advocate, END PLASTIC POLLUTION Campaign (2020 – Present) See: Instagram
Organizer, Ugandan Tree Planting Campaign (Apr 2020 – Present) See: Instagram
Educator, Climate Education in Schools Campaign (2022 – Present) See: this or this Instagram post
Conferences and Events
Patience has represented her country and the climate justice movement at numerous international conferences, including:
2024
June: Delegate at Bonn Climate Conference ’24. See: UNFCC
June: Delegate at June UN Climate Meetings in Paris. See: Africa News
May: Guest at World Expression Forum in Lillehamer, Norway. See: Instagram
2023
November: Keynote speaker at Oil Money Out. See: Byline Times
November: Delegate at COP28 in Dubai. See: FacingFuture.tv
September: Guest at Mindchanger Conference in Stuttgart
September: Delegate at Africa Summit in Nairobi. See: fossilfueltreaty.org
June: Delegate at Bonn Climate Conference ’23. See: Climatalk or Instagram
June: Guest at Youth and Children Human Rights. See: UN SR on Human Rights Defenders
March: Keynote Speaker at Africa Film Festival Milan. See: UN video
March: Guest at Eearthna Summit in Doha. See: Doha News
2022
November: Delegate at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. See: Human Rights Watch
September: Workshop instructor at Climate Justice Camp in Tunisia. See here
July: Workshop instructor at Turin FFF Climate Camp. See lifegate.com, Getty images or here
2021
November: Delegate at COP26 in Glasgow. See: Sunday Post or CNBC.
Media Appearances
Patience’s activism has gained international attention, and she has been featured in:
One World (2024): Ugendan climate activist Patience Nanbukalu: ‘Use your privilege and take to the streets’ (Dutch)
New York Times (2023): Countries on Front Lines of Climate Change Seek New Lifeline in Paris
Amazon documentary (2023): ‘Climate Change: the World’s Most Dangerous Show’ – Episode 5: On ending exploitation
Green European Journal (2023): Patience Nabukalu: “Exploiting us is not supporting our cause” (Spanish)
Madmoizelle (2023): ‘Patience Nabukalu: “We should not be sentenced to death for a crisis we did not cause”‘ (French)
Heal the Planet: October’s Planet Leader – Patience Nabukalu
Financial Times (2021): ‘Young activists harness social media to fire up global campaigns’
Skills
Campaigning, organizing, and mobilizing
Advocacy and negotiation
Media spokesperson
Climate and biodiversity education
Social media strategy
Education
Certificate in Flight Operations (2019 – 2020), Ninety Nines Flying School, Nairobi
Uganda Advanced Level of Education (2014 – 2016), Lubiri Secondary School, Kampala
Languages
English
Luganda
Hobbies
Patience enjoys traveling, dancing, music, and cultural exchange.
She continues to be a strong advocate for climate justice, focusing on the empowerment of communities in Uganda and across the African continent.
Lets embrace Patience Nabukalu!
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