The University of Botswana (UB) is set to confer an honorary Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (DLitt), on internationally acclaimed San rights activist, Mr Roy Sesana, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to defending the rights, cultural identity and dignity of one of Botswana’s historically marginalised communities.
Mr Sesana will receive the honour during UB’s 44th Graduation Ceremonies scheduled for 21st – 23rd of October 2026 at the UB Campus Indoor Sports Centre. As Botswana marks 60 years of independence, the recognition also brings into focus the contribution of individuals whose struggles have helped shape the country’s democratic and human-rights landscape.
Born in Molapo, a settlement in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), Mr Sesana’s life has been closely connected to the land, traditions and communities whose rights he has spent decades defending. After working in South African mines for several years, he returned to Botswana in 1971 to live among his community. During this period, he travelled with service providers operating within the CKGR, assisting with interpretation and facilitating communication between the communities and those delivering services.
His involvement in community affairs developed into a lifelong commitment to indigenous rights. In 1991, he co-founded the First People of the Kalahari (FPK) with John Hardbattle, an organisation established to advocate for the rights of indigenous people. He was elected chairperson in 1995, a position from which he championed the preservation of San culture, traditional livelihoods and the natural environment. These principles continue to underpin his advocacy.
Mr Sesana and the FPK became prominent voices opposing the relocation of San communities from their ancestral lands in the CKGR. Between 1997 and 2002, communities were relocated to settlements including New Xade and Kaudwane, a process that generated sustained debate over ancestral land rights, conservation, cultural preservation and the treatment of indigenous communities.
In seeking support for their cause, Mr Sesana travelled to Europe and the United States, drawing international attention to the communities’ concerns and appealing for assistance in efforts to prevent their displacement. His activism culminated in a landmark legal challenge in 2002, when the FPK, under his leadership, took the Government of Botswana to court to seek the return of relocated community members to the CKGR.
In 2006, the High Court ruled in favour of the applicants, finding that the refusal to allow the applicants to return to the reserve and their dispossession without consent were unlawful and unconstitutional. The judgment became a defining moment in Botswana’s human-rights history, reinforcing the significance of access to ancestral land, cultural identity and constitutional protection for marginalised communities.
Among the lawyers who represented the Basarwa in the legal proceedings was Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, now President of the Republic of Botswana, who was then practising as a human-rights lawyer. Their involvement underscored the case’s importance in advancing national and international debate on the rights of indigenous communities.
Mr Sesana’s advocacy also extended to restoring access to essential services for communities remaining in the CKGR. He successfully secured a meeting with the then President of Botswana, Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, to discuss the restoration of services in the reserve. According to information provided on his work, the delivery of essential supplies including food, medication and water, resumed in 2016 and has continued since then.
His commitment to the cause came at a personal cost. In September 2005, Mr Sesana was arrested in connection with allegations of rioting and attempting to enter the CKGR forcibly. He was released a few days later. In December of the same year, he received the Right Livelihood Award in recognition of his resolute resistance to the eviction of San communities from their ancestral lands and his defence of their right to maintain their traditional way of life.
Beyond his advocacy, Mr Sesana has continued to serve the communities whose interests he has championed. In January 2016, he was employed by the Ministry of Local Government under the Ghanzi District Council as a Community Liaison Officer. He also serves as chairperson of the CKGR Consultative Committee, coordinating projects and services for affected communities.
UB’s decision to confer an honorary doctorate on Mr Sesana recognises a lifetime of service that extends beyond individual achievement. His work has brought international attention to the rights of indigenous people and highlighted the relationship between land, cultural identity, environmental stewardship and human dignity.
As Botswana reflects on six decades of independence, the honour provides an opportunity to consider the role of principled advocacy in strengthening democracy and ensuring that the experiences and rights of marginalised communities remain central to national development.
Through this recognition, the University celebrates Mr Sesana’s enduring contribution to human rights and the preservation of San heritage, acknowledging a life devoted to ensuring that his community’s voice, identity and dignity are not lost in the pursuit of national development.
