Our people

Richard Lusimbo
Pan Africa ILGA representative to the ILGA World Board
elected after the Pan Africa ILGA conference in Johannesburg, November 2025

Richard Lusimbo (he/him) is a Ugandan human rights leader and one of Africa’s most prominent advocates for the rights, health, and dignity of marginalised communities. He is the Founder and Director General of Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC). This national coalition unites key population-led organisations to collectively define priorities and advocate on issues including civic space, programming sustainability, and resource access.

With over two decades of experience in movement building, policy advocacy, and institutional leadership, Richard is a widely respected LGBTI and human rights activist across the continent. Beginning his activism in his early twenties, he has been a trailblazer in youth-led leadership and has helped strengthen human rights movements at the national, regional, and continental levels.

Prior to founding UKPC, he served as Research and Documentation Manager at Sexual Minorities Uganda and Programs Manager at Pan Africa ILGA, where he continues to serve on the Board as Co-Chair. Globally, Richard is a member of the UNAIDS Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics, contributing African perspectives on inequality, criminalisation, and the lived realities of key populations.

His leadership is characterised by principled advocacy, strategic institution-building, and a sustained commitment to advancing equity and human rights for communities most affected by exclusion and criminalisation.

Richard holds a Master of Philosophy in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria, and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Uganda Christian University. He is an alumnus of Lund University’s International Training Programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Organisation: Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC)