ByamunguNgirimba.

Paragraph 1: Background and Arrival Byamungu Ngirimba is a seasoned human rights defender and investigative journalist with over 15 years of experience. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he was forced into exile due to severe persecution linked to his activism, ethnic background, and unwavering advocacy for marginalized groups, including the LGBT community. Seeking safety, he arrived in Uganda and was officially recognized as a refugee by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and UNHCR in May 2016. Upon settling in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, he immediately witnessed the systemic injustices, exploitation, and lack of legal protection faced by displaced populations, which ignited his resolve to take action.

Paragraph 2: The Catalyst and Founding URVR Before his exile, Byamungu served as an investigative journalist at Radio Communautaire Flash FM in Kamanyola and worked with the Nouvelle Société Civile Congolaise (NSCC). He dedicated his career to documenting conflict-related human rights violations, gender-based violence (GBV), and the forced recruitment of child soldiers, while empowering communities to demand accountability from their leaders. This commitment exposed him to relentless threats and retaliation, ultimately forcing him to flee. However, exile did not silence him. In August 2024, he joined URVR as an investigative defender. A defining moment occurred in December 2025, when he bravely documented an illegal detention facility in Kabahinda where refugees were tortured and extorted, and successfully campaigned against an illegal police roadblock used to ransom refugees. This critical investigation drew direct threats against his life, highlighting the extreme personal risk he continues to take to protect others.