09/02/2026
It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of our dear friend, mentor, and fierce LGBTQ rights defender, Joan Amek Eoju, the Kahuna of Rella Foundation Uganda.
To our organization, Joan was not only a respected leader, but also a former member of our Board of Directors. She served with integrity, wisdom, and a deep sense of responsibility to the community we exist to protect and uplift.
Joan was also a fellow USAID GUIDE fellow, and in that journey, she stood with our team leader, Gafidyn who led with her with courage and care. Beyond titles and roles, Joan was more than a colleague or a comrade. She was more than a sibling. She was family.
Her bright smile lit up our programs and our rooms. Her presence brought warmth, hope, and strength, even in the most difficult moments. She made people feel safe, seen, and valued, and she carried the kind of leadership that was both powerful and deeply human.
Joan’s passing leaves a painful absence, but her legacy remains enduring. It lives in every person she mentored, every life she touched, and every space she transformed through her love, courage, and commitment to justice.
May her soul rest in peace and power. We will remember her with gratitude, and we will continue the struggle she carried with such purpose.
