Namwanje Shakirah is a registered counselor, HIV prevention advocate, and researcher from Uganda. A survivor of sexual abuse and living positively with HIV, she has transformed her personal journey into a powerful source of advocacy and inspiration. Shakirah uses her passion for music and dance as tools to engage and educate young people on the importance of health, safety, and self-empowerment.
T first met Shakirah alongside a group of fellow Ugandan HIV advocates at AIDS 2016 in Durban, South Africa, a connection that later led to her performing as a backup singer with The Promise at AIDS 2018 in Amsterdam.
She is the 2019 AVAC Fellow from Uganda and was recognized internationally as the runner-up for the 2021 Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy.