PEPE JULIAN ONZIEMA is the Deputy Director at Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). Known to many as Opimva (“son of a chief”), he is an African citizen of Ugandan descent, a human rights defender, sexual and gender minority advocate, fearless influencer of society, and freedom fighter living openly as a transman in Uganda. In 2012, he was named a Global Citizen by the Clinton Global Initiative for his work in human rights advocacy. In 2013, he was shortlisted for the David Kato Vision and Voice Award, an award in honour of his slain friend and colleague, and fellow advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda, David Kato. In 2014, he was interviewed by John Oliver on the American television series Last Week Tonight about the human rights situation for LGBT people in Uganda. Stonewall selected Onziema as Hero of the Year in 2014.