Avance media has featured the following Ugandans in their list of the top 100 most influential young Africans 2021. In Uganda, the list features 4 activists, 2 athletes, and one businessman. The criteria were based on personal accomplishments, commitment, sharing of Knowledge among several other aspects. Since the list was made in Alphabetic order, there was no one placed above the other on basis of accomplishments.
- Joshua Cheptegei
- Japheth Kawanguzi
- Vanessa Nakate
- Nakabuye Hilda
- Peruth Chemutei
- Leah Namugerwa
- Joanita Babirye
Joshua Cheptegei
Joshua Kipruni Cheptegei is a 25-year-old Ugandan long-distance runner. He is the current world record holder for 5000m and 10,000m. He set these records in 2020. Cheptegei is also Uganda’s most decorated athlete with 7 gold medals to his name and 2 silver medals.
He has one gold Olympic medal for 5000m and a silver Olympic medal for 10,000m. 2 commonwealth gold medals, one world cross country championships gold medal, one world championships gold medal, one world championships silver medal, one African junior championships gold medal, and one world junior championships gold medal.
Japheth Kawanguzi
According to his Linkedin profile; “Japheth is building The Innovation Village; Uganda’s launchpad for leading Innovators and entrepreneurs co-creating the future through the smart application of technology to unravel challenges and create unique solutions. He works with mission-oriented entrepreneurs to capture new value from digital—creating products, experiences, and businesses. He helped set up The CEO Summit; a community of the top 100 captains of business and industry to dialogue and shape trends driving Uganda’s economy with the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development.”
“Formerly he was Head of Talent at Uganda’s largest utility, his mandate was to put the best talent behind the company’s corporate strategy.”
Vanessa Nakate
According to Wikipedia; Vanessa Nakate is a Ugandan climate justice activist. She grew up in Kampala and became a celebrity in December 2018 after becoming concerned about the unusually high temperatures in her country.
Nakabuye Hilda
According to Wikipedia; “Hilda Flavia Nakabuye is a Ugandan climate and environmental rights activist who founded Uganda’s Fridays for Future movement. She also advocates for greater gender equality and racial diversity in the climate change movement.”
Peruth Chemutei
Peruth Chemutei is a Ugandan long-distance runner that rose to fame after winning a gold Olympic medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She has so far won two medals in her international career; a 3000m silver medal for the world under 20 championships, and a 3000m gold Olympic medal
Leah Namugerwa
According to Wikipedia; “Leah Namugerwa is a youth climate activist in Uganda. She is known for leading tree-planting campaigns and for starting a petition to enforce the plastic bag ban in Uganda.”
Joanita Babirye
Joanita Babirye is the co-founder of Girls For Climate Action. She is also a climate activist. Upon the breaking of this special achievement in her life, she took it to Twitter to say; “I feel so humbled to have been recognized as one of the 2021 100 Most Influential Young Africans by Avance Media under the leadership and civil society. To the entire team of Girls For Climate Action action, this is us!”
