Sarah Babirye Kityo, who was jailed after exposing alleged corruption in Uganda’s netball federation, has been recognized by Blueprint for Free Speech with the Blueprint 2024 Africa Whistleblowing Prize. The award celebrates her courageous stand against corruption despite facing severe repercussions.
Babirye is one of six African recipients of the prize, which honors whistleblowers worldwide for their bravery in exposing wrongdoing. She joins notable figures like Nigerian doctors Egbuna Obidike and Vivian Muoneke, who uncovered toxic cough syrups causing child deaths, and South Africans Dorothy Mmushi and Mbuso Ngcobo, who exposed corruption in major institutions.
As president of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF), Babirye introduced reforms to combat corruption, such as whistleblower policies, financial controls, and grievance mechanisms for players. Her efforts, however, put her at odds with the National Council of Sports (NCS), leading to a series of accusations, arrests, and even an attack on her home.
Babirye’s refusal to pay kickbacks and her public accusations against NCS General Secretary Patrick Ogwel escalated the conflict. Despite being exonerated by Uganda’s Ombudsman, she faced continued persecution, including a directive from First Lady Janet Museveni to vacate her office and a freeze on federation funding.
Babirye’s efforts were recognized despite the Ugandan Netball Federation being dissolved in 2024 and replaced with a new body involving officials implicated in past corruption scandals.
Receiving the award, Babirye said, “From prison to an award, I dedicate this to everyone who believes in me.” She vowed to continue advocating for transparency and justice.
The Blueprint for Free Speech awards, judged by an esteemed panel including Lord Hollick and Dr. Suelette Dreyfus, share a £21,000 prize among winners, along with specially designed trophies. Babirye’s story stands as a testament to resilience in the fight against corruption in one of the world’s most challenging environments for whistleblowers.
