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Centre for Human Rights, doctoral candidate Brian Kibirango is the latest recipient of the Christof Heyns memorial scholarship. The Christof Heyns Human Rights Scholarship was instituted in memory of renowned human rights scholar, Christof Heyns, who was a professor of human rights law at the University of Pretoria until his untimely death in March 2021.

Brian Kibirango is an alumnus of the CHR graduating from the Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) master's  in 2021. Brian’s thesis is on the impact of international law on the right to participate in public affairs in Uganda.

Asked how he hopes to make an impact with this research,  he remarks: “ I am aware of the enduring and emerging challenges to democratisation and human rights broadly at all levels. I pledge to commit the knowledge and experience from this academic undertaking, to identify challenges and find solutions to Africa’s problems.”

On meeting the family of the late Prof Heyns, Kibirango said: “It was a humbling experience and a moment of realisation, of the immense responsibility that lies ahead by virtue of being awarded this scholarship, and thus hope to follow in the footsteps of the late Prof Heyns. I wish to thank the Heyns family and the Centre for Human Rights for the Scholarship.”

Brian Kibirango, met with his wife (Fearika Heyns) and daughter (Willemien Rust) of the late professor Christof Heyns. Brian met the members of the Heyns family, together with the Centre for Human Rights (CHR) management, at the chestnut tree ('Christof's Tree of Life)  which was planted in Christof's memory between the CHR and the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa (ICLA) on the Hatfield campus of the University of Pretoria


For more information, please contact:

Manager: Communications and Advocacy

Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 4948
 andile.mdleleni@up.ac.za 

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