As Uganda’s first Fridays for Future striker, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Washington Post Top 50 and founder of multiple climate initiatives including the Rise Up Movement and Vash Green Schools Project, Vanessa has become one of Africa’s most recognisable voices for climate justice.
But despite her impact as an activist, Vanessa came to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at Oxford with a clear mission: to deepen her skills and enhance her capacity to influence climate policy where it matters most – in the rooms where decisions are made.
Before the MPP, Vanessa had already dedicated years to activism. ‘I started in 2019,’ she explains. ‘I joined the Fridays for Future movement, started by Greta Thunberg in Sweden, and began organising strikes every Friday in Uganda to raise awareness about climate change in my community.’ Beyond street-level mobilisation, she led educational initiatives in schools, championed grassroots projects like solar panel installations and helped young activists across Africa attend international climate conferences.
Her journey into activism was rooted in first-hand experience. ‘It was after learning that climate change was happening in my country and affecting people directly. Uganda depends heavily on agriculture, and changes in weather patterns – heavy rains, long droughts – were causing failed harvests and affecting people’s livelihoods. I saw a problem and I wanted to do something about it.’
That desire to act eventually led Vanessa to Oxford.
I realised that people on the front lines of climate change need to be in the rooms where decisions are made. But it’s not enough to just be in those rooms – we also need the knowledge and skills to participate and bring impact. That’s what led me to the MPP.
Vanessa is also a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholar, a distinction she credits with making her time at Oxford possible. ‘Being a WHT scholar has allowed me to pursue my studies at Oxford and to participate in a leadership programme’, she says.
Vanessa admits that initially the transition from full-time activism to academia wasn’t easy. ‘The MPP is honestly a very intense programme,’ she acknowledges. ‘It was hard for me at the beginning, but it became easier. In some ways, stepping back from activism has been helpful. Activism can be exhausting and overwhelming. This year has allowed me to rest from the constant demands, and to invest in myself, in learning new things.’
One of the most transformative aspects of the MPP for Vanessa has been gaining the language to articulate the climate justice issues she’s long been passionate about. ‘The MPP has given me the language to explain some of the issues I’ve been working on’, she says. Among the modules, international law stood out in particular: ‘Every lesson was just an opening – to see how the world works, and how the law can be used to bring impact in the climate space.’
Vanessa also credits her academic supervisor, Professor Thomas Hale, with helping her navigate the shift. ‘I remember telling him I wanted to make an impact, and also that I was struggling with school while still receiving so many invitations to speak or engage in activism. He told me: “You have one year – invest in yourself. There will always be opportunities.” That really helped me.’
Reflecting on her time so far at Oxford, Vanessa says the pace of the year has taken her by surprise. ‘It all goes by so fast. There are things I still want to do – more social activities, more formal dinners. I want to engage more with the community around me.’
Looking ahead, she’s currently focused on finding an internship – and on translating her MPP knowledge into meaningful action. Her long-term vision remains rooted in the same values that first brought her into climate work: equity, justice and impact.
For activists considering the MPP, Vanessa offers both empathy and encouragement. ‘It’s hard to put activism on hold – I experienced that too. But I’d tell them exactly what Professor Tom told me: it’s okay to pause and focus on education. That education will help you make much more impact in the long run. And remember – it all goes by fast, so prioritise what matters most. And bring warm clothes!’
Despite the crises unfolding around the world, Vanessa remains hopeful and committed to climate action.
It gets harder to feel hopeful as the years go by, especially with all the conflict and devastation in the world. But the MPP has given me hope, and not just naive hope, but the hope that I can do something, I can make an impact through my work through, through action. I’ve learned that no action is too small. Whether it’s changing one person’s life or working on policy implementation for a specific climate issue, I know I can do something. That’s what gives me hope – showing up, taking action, and believing we can make the world a better place.