Patience Nekesa receives the Yoast Care fund for her contribution to the WordPress community

Meet Patience Nekesa, a valued member of the WordPress community! Moses Cursor Ssebunya nominated her for the Yoast Care Fund for her commitment and valuable contributions. Let’s learn more about this WordPress enthusiast.

Nominator Moses Cursor Ssebunya: “Patience Nekesa is one of the pioneers of the WordPress community in Uganda and a dedicated advocate for open-source empowerment. She was a speaker at the very first WordCamp in Uganda, WordCamp Kampala 2017, and later organized Website Weekend Kampala, an initiative that brought together nonprofit organizations and web developers to create free websites and foster lasting collaboration within the WordPress ecosystem. Building on its success, she has since expanded the project into Website Camp (websitecamp.org), a year-round program that continues to support nonprofits and rural schools in establishing a meaningful online presence. Beyond event leadership, Patience has been an active speaker and volunteer at multiple WordCamps.”

Let’s get to know Patience Nekesa

Those are some lovely words by Moses. Let’s get to know Patience a bit better and ask her some questions about her work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Patience! What do you do in the WordPress space?

I am a WordPress community advocate, trainer, developer, mentor, and open-source contributor. Over the years, I have built websites for businesses, nonprofits, schools, and government organizations using WordPress. I contribute by speaking at WordCamps, participating in local meetups, translating WordPress into Luganda, mentoring women in technology, and creating initiatives such as Website Camp and WPWomen.

My mission is to make WordPress more accessible while using it as a tool to empower communities, create opportunities, and promote digital inclusion across Africa and beyond.

How did you first discover WordPress, and why did you start contributing?

I discovered WordPress in 2008 while searching for employment opportunities in Uganda’s technology sector. Facing gender discrimination, I chose to become a self-employed website developer. WordPress gave me an affordable and powerful platform to build websites for organizations with limited resources. What truly inspired me, however, was the global community built around open source. Through tutorials, forums, and contributors, I experienced the generosity of people who freely shared their knowledge.

That inspired me to give back by volunteering at WordPress events, speaking at WordCamps, translating WordPress into Luganda, mentoring beginners, and helping nonprofits build websites. I contribute because I want others to experience the same opportunities, confidence, and freedom that WordPress has given me.

What’s your favorite WordPress memory or something you’re most proud of?

One of my proudest WordPress memories was speaking at the very first WordCamp Uganda in 2017. It was an incredible moment to be part of the beginning of Uganda’s WordPress community. I am equally proud of launching Website Weekend Kampala, which has grown into Website Camp, a year-round initiative that connects nonprofits and rural schools with volunteer developers to build websites that strengthen their visibility, fundraising, and impact in their communities.

What do you think made you stand out for this nomination?

I believe what makes my journey unique is my commitment to using WordPress to create opportunities for others. Beyond building websites, I have focused on building communities and empowering people through knowledge sharing. I mentor women in WordPress by creating a safe and supportive space where they know they can reach out to me whenever they face technical challenges, and I am always happy to guide them.

I have also supported nonprofits in establishing an online presence, contributed to the translation of WordPress into Luganda to improve accessibility, and founded initiatives such as Website Camp and WPWomen to expand access to WordPress education and community. Even when time and resources have been limited, I have continued to contribute because I believe open source should be accessible to everyone. Everything I do is driven by inclusion, collaboration, and a desire to empower individuals and organizations to succeed through WordPress.

If you could shape the future of WordPress, what would it look like?

I would love to see WordPress become even more inclusive, particularly for underserved communities in developing countries. In addition, I hope to see greater investment in local-language translations, accessibility, mentorship, education, and contributor programs that make it easier for newcomers to participate. I also envision stronger support for women, youth, and community-led initiatives that use WordPress to solve social challenges. My dream is for every person, regardless of location or background, to feel that WordPress is a place where they belong.

Where can people connect with you? Online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

I enjoy connecting with people, mostly online through platforms where we can exchange ideas and support one another, as well as at WordCamps, local WordPress meetups, and community events. As Website Camp and WPWomen continue to grow, they will become important spaces for collaboration and learning. I am always happy to mentor aspiring WordPress users, collaborate on community initiatives, or simply have conversations about open source, web development, and using technology to create meaningful social impact.

Thank you for this interview, Patience, and for all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Patience Nekesa who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.