Esther Nakajjigo

Ugandan activist
Ludovic Michaud
​
(m. 2020)​

Esther Nakajjigo (c. 1995 – 13 June 2020) was a Ugandan humanitarian and human rights activist. She was named Uganda's ambassador of hope for women and girls by the World Health Organization. Nakajjigo founded the Princess Diana Health Centre in Munyonyo. Nakjjigo was a TV presenter of the reality shows "Saving Innocence Project" and "Lift: Living in the Face of Trauma".

Life

Nakajjigo was born in Munyonyo to Mr. and Mrs. Katergga.[1] She is the first of five children.[1] At the age of 14, Nakajjigo volunteered as a peer educator at the Kiruddu Health Centre.[1] The same year, she established the Women Health Team, a non-governmental organization aimed at educating and supporting women in Kalangala.[2] After the Kiruddu Health Centre closed for renovations, her mother gave her land in Munyonyo to build the Princess Diana Health Centre.[1] She worked to help decrease the number of teenage pregnancies.[1] For her efforts, at the age of 17, the World Health Organization named her Uganda's ambassador of hope for women and girls.[1]

Nakajjigo was a presenter on Bukedde TV. She established the reality show titled "Saving Innocence Project" to help young girls who have dropped out of school.[1] The show won a Geneva Award.[1] Nakajjigo started the "Lift: Living in the Face of Trauma" reality show.[3] She won the 2015 and 2016 World Savers awards which provided Nakajjigo with a scholarship from the Kabaka of Buganda to attend Muteesa I Royal University.[1] In 2018, she was completing a bachelor's degree in social work and social administration.[1] She was a 2018 recipient of a Mandela Washington Fellowship.[3] In June 2018, she launched the Global Girls Movement in Brussels.[4][5]

On 13 June 2019, Nakajjigo met Ludovic Michaud in Aurora, Colorado through Tinder.[6][7] They married in a courthouse ceremony in March 2020.[6] On 13 June 2020, Nakajjigo was decapitated by a metal gate while visiting Arches National Park with her husband.[6] In January 2023, her family was awarded US$10.5M in damages by the federal government of the United States.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nantaba, Agnes (2018-02-20). "Esther Nakajjigo: Young fighter for women and girls". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  2. ^ Flavia, Bezerra (July 12, 2018). "Conheça a jovem que está mudando a história de Uganda". Glamour (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  3. ^ a b "Esther Nakajjigo". Drexel University Office of Global Engagement. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  4. ^ "Esther Nakajjigo". University of Colorado Boulder Conference on World Affairs. 2019-02-19. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  5. ^ "Esther Nakajjigo, Uganda: Founder Global Girls Movement". African Leadership Magazine. June 21, 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  6. ^ a b c Chuck, Elizabeth; Dasrath, Diana (November 1, 2020). "An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific accident cut her life short". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  7. ^ Carlisle, Nate (2022-12-09). "Husband takes witness stand in civil trial over his wife's decapitation death in Arches National Park". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  8. ^ Metz, Sam (2023-01-31). "Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-02-02.