Published on: January 25, 2026
The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) is one of four organisations participating in the prestigious annual fellowship programme of the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC), alongside partner institutions from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya.
NOREC promotes structured knowledge sharing through year-long work exchange placements targeting youth empowerment, institutional strengthening, and capacity development. The programme facilitates mutual learning and sustainable knowledge transfer to benefit both participating professionals and their host institutions.
Since 2024, FHRI has actively benefited from the programme. Each year, a pair of lawyers from FHRI participate in the exchange, while FHRI hosts two fellows from one of its partner organisations: the African Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) in South Africa, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) in Kenya, or the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) in Zimbabwe.
In February 2025, FHRI welcomed Ms. Leandre A. Martin from Zimbabwe and Mr. Valtein Lenny Ntlantla from South Africa as part of the 2025 fellowship cohort. The fellows were attached to the FHRI Bushenyi Legal Aid Project (F-BLAP) office in Bushenyi District under the project theme: Enhancing Criminal Justice Reform in Uganda: Promoting Alternative Punishment in Bushenyi District and the neighbouring districts of Sheema, Rubirizi, Mitooma and Buhweju.”
The project aims to address systemic challenges within Uganda’s criminal justice system, particularly:
- Prolonged pre-trial detention
- Prison overcrowding
- Limited respect for the dignity and integrity of offenders
F-BLAP works closely with district leadership, national and local Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) actors, and other relevant stakeholders to promote alternative sentencing and strengthen access to justice in the Greater Bushenyi region.
During their year-long placement in Bushenyi, the fellows:
- Provided free legal aid services to vulnerable communities
- Participated in advocacy campaigns against the death penalty
- Conducted community legal rights and procedure trainings
- Engaged in policy reform advocacy initiatives
The exchange proved mutually beneficial. The fellows contributed valuable comparative insights and professional expertise from their respective jurisdictions while gaining practical exposure to Uganda’s justice system, institutional frameworks, and community-based legal interventions.
In mid-February 2026, FHRI again saw the returning and outgoing fellows who had completed their fellowship and vice versa. FHRI welcomed back Ms. Samantha Lubuulwa, who had been attached to ICJ–Kenya, and Ms. Aida Namakula from the Legal Resources Foundation in Zimbabwe and looked up to them in further enriching the organisation with international exposure and enhanced professional competencies.
Similarly, FHRI continued its commitment to regional collaboration by seconding Mr. Innocent Ainebyona to Zimbabwe, while Ms. Florence Kubaza is scheduled to join the African Judges and Jurists Forum in South Africa. In return, FHRI has received Mr. Xoliswa Mthunzi from Zimbabwe and Mr. Bathandwa Hlanjwa from South Africa, reinforcing the organisation’s cross-border knowledge exchange and strengthening regional cooperation in advancing human rights and criminal justice reform.
Picture Caption
FHRI staff bidding farewell to NOREC Outgoing Fellows at the Human Right House, February 2026. From 2nd Left to Right Ms. Leandre A. Martin back to Zimbabwe and Mr. Valtein Lenny Ntlantla back to South Africa & from FHRI, Mr. Innocent Ainebyona going to Zimbabwe, and Ms. Florence Kubaza going to South Africa.