Tom Twongyeirwe Junior is a distinguished human rights advocate and social justice leader, dedicated to advancing the inclusion of marginalized communities through faith-based initiatives. He is the co-founder and National Coordinator of the Universal Coalition of Affirming Africans Uganda (UCAA-UG), the first national coalition of Ugandan religious leaders committed to fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion in Uganda. Under his visionary leadership, UCAA-UG has grown to over 110 members and 200 partners across diverse sectors, including health and civil society, bridging the gap between faith and LGBTQ+ communities through innovative, dialogue-driven programs.
A recognized changemaker, Tom was featured in The New York Times in July 2023 as one of six young leaders driving positive change across Africa. He is a 2023 Obama Foundation Leader, a Global Peace Ambassador, and was a Ugandan leader named the Human Rights Campaign’s Global Innovator of the Year in 2019. Tom also serves as the Assistant Youth Services Director at the Rotary Club of Kampala Sunshine and previously held a Diversity and Inclusion Placement at St. James and Emmanuel Parish in Manchester, UK (2021/2022).
Tom has delivered keynote addresses at prestigious institutions and organizations, including the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network (USA), the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), RSA Consulting Ltd (UK), and various faith communities in the UK.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) with a First Class from The Open University in the United Kingdom (UK). He also holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and a Level 2 Certificate in Counseling from the Workers’ Education Association UK.
Tom is passionate about building an inclusive world and envisions a future where all people can live and love freely, without fear or discrimination.