Namutebi Olive

Olive Namutebi, from Uganda, is one of Africa’s most influential voices advocating for the dignity and inclusion of people with albinism. Before devoting herself fully to activism, Olive began her career in the banking and finance sector, where she also led a financial inclusion programme funded by the Gates Foundation at Pearl Bank Uganda.

As Founder and Executive Director of Albinism Umbrella, Olive secured the support of the 10th Parliament of Uganda to establish a centre dedicated to albinism. She has transformed the lives of thousands of people with albinism through business coaching, mentoring, self-acceptance training, workplace inclusion and access to services. She spearheaded the National Action Plan on Albinism in Uganda (adopted in 2022) and promotes advocacy campaigns in Mali, Zambia, South Africa and Burundi.

She chairs the National Steering Committee for People with Albinism in Uganda, serves as Treasurer of the NAWOU Council – a national women’s organisation – and is a Ford Foundation Fellow and a USAID-GUIDE Fellow. In 2025, she was awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal by the President of Uganda for her service to women and marginalised communities.