By BigEyeUg Team
Name: Patience Nabukalu
Date of Birth: June 15, 1997
Place of Birth: Kampala, Uganda
Contact: nabukalupatience@gmail.com
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
She continues to be a strong advocate for climate justice, focusing on the empowerment of communities in Uganda and across the African continent.
Let’s embrace Patience Nabukalu!
