Robert Okello is a PhD candidate and Maria Skłodowska-Curie Fellow under the GROW program, supported by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the European Union. He is jointly conducting his research at the The Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law and Governance (VVI) and the African Studies Centre Leiden. Previously, he worked as development consultant for governments, Think Tanks and international organisations on rule of law, governance and justice innovation in fragile contexts in Africa. He is researching legal pluralism in fragile contexts. Titled: Re-imaginging Customary Justice after war; Authority, Legitimacy and Customary Justice in Post Conflict Northern Uganda.

He holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies, with a specialisation in Human Rights from Erasmus University Rotterdam (International Institute of Social Studies). With his thesis Rural Women’s Legal Empowerment through Digital Technology: A case study in Northern Uganda he won the Africa Thesis Award 2022. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Statistics (with Merit) from Makerere University, and a Diploma in Law (with Distinction) from the Law Development Centre in Uganda.
In his free time, Robert enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and dancing. He is a semi-pro Afrobeats and Amapiano dancer and also enjoys Bachata and Kizomba.