Board Of Directors
MR. PATRICK OKELLO OKUMU-OMONY
Board Chairperson
MR. PATRICK OKELLO OKUMU-OMONY
Board Chairperson
Mr. Okello is the Strategy and Institutional Development Advisor at the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu. He has more than 15 years of experience in organizational development, micro and small enterprise development and support, social entrepreneurship, development finance, rural/community development, logistics, and procurement management, project concept development, strategic and enterprise resource planning backed up with humanitarian development monitoring, evaluation, learning, accountability, knowledge generation and management, stakeholder and partnership coordination including coaching, training, and mentorship. He has previously worked at Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate (LSMIG), Archdiocese of Gulu, A Consortium of renowned International humanitarian agencies led by CARITAS Switzerland, CARITAS Torit / Catholic Diocese of Torit, St. Joseph’s College Ombaci, Arua, National Association of Parents of Deaf Children in Uganda, Cordaid Microfinance Investment in South Sudan, Justice Peace & Human Rights Commission of Arua Diocese, Gulu Women Economic & Empowerment- Globalisation (GWED-G), IFAD / Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries, Rural Microfinance Support Project / African Development Bank among others. He holds a Master of Business Administration – Entrepreneurship for Impact from Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan – Italy, Altis Graduate School of Business & Society jointly with Uganda Martyrs University, Master of Science in Development Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany, Bachelors’ of Arts Degree in Microfinance & Community Economic Development from Uganda Martyrs University-Nkozi, Associate Bachelor’s Degree in Microfinance & Community Economic Development, Part Qualified ACCA and CPA from Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the UK and Certified Public Accountants of Kenya respectively. He has attended several in-service skill training programs such as Certificate in Strategic Peace Building from United States Institute for Peace (USIP) –Washington, Certificate in Fundamentals of Project Management for Development from Project Management Institute – Atlanta Georgia, Certified SME Finance Specialist from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany, Certificate in Audit and Payment Procedures under 9th and 10th EDF Funded Projects from Management Development Foundation (MDF) - the Netherlands and the European Commission in Uganda, Certificate in Project Cycle Management (PCM) from PARTICIP GmbH-Germany and Certificate in Navision Financials (later called Microsoft Business Solution) from CARLBRO East Africa.
MRS. CECILIA NAJJEMBA MUKASA KABANDA
Vice Board Chairperson
MRS. CECILIA NAJJEMBA MUKASA KABANDA
Vice Board Chairperson
Mrs. Mukasa was a board member for Katutandike Uganda heading the ECD committee. She
was also a Team Leader for the Transform for Life Program Implementers at Kampala Baptist
Church.
She has previously worked at Coach Africa as the Associate Trainer, Youth Alive as an
Associate Trainer / Mentor, Uganda Media Women Association as a part-time Organization
Development Specialist and Trainer, National Council of Leonard Cheshire Services in Uganda
as a Coordinator and Secretary to the National Council, True Love Waits Project as a
Coordinator among others.
She holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Research Methods from Centre for Basic Research, a
Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Uganda Management Institute, a Certificate in
Facilitating Individual and Organization Development from East African Support Unit for
NGOs (Tanzania) and Community Development Resource Association (South Africa) and a
Bachelors’ of Arts in Social Sciences (Social Administration and Political science) from
Makerere University.
She has attended several short training courses such as PIASCY Post Primary Education and
Training Trainer of Trainers at Ministry of Education and Sports, Creative communication of
Jesus and the gospel to children at Viva Network and CaRNaC, Child Welfare and protection
policy Development at Uganda Child Rights NGO Network, Basics in Community Based
rehabilitation at COMBRA Training Center, Awareness Raising on People living with
Disabilities in Uganda Project at BBC World Service Drama and the Leonard Cheshire
Foundation among others.
DR. MONICA ETIMA
Board Member
DR. MONICA ETIMA
Board Member
Dr. Etima works with PEPFAR funded projects in Uganda that care for about 50,000 HIVpositive children and adults in Central Uganda. She is a Senior Paediatrician and Researcher
with over fifteen years of professional experience in Paediatrics, HIV care, and Research
involving both local and international multi-site and multinational. Additionally, she is a Board
member of a drug addiction center based in Uganda and sits on the Board of Serenity Centre
Uganda and Emmaus School of Evangelization Luwero Uganda. She is also a member of the
Uganda National Paediatrics ART Subcommittee.
She has been involved in the development of policies and curricula in the HIV field, parenting,
and family life. She has extensive experience in handling paediatric and adult HIV-infected
and affected patients, researching, developing proposals, and then implementing them. She has
significant experience in leading especially medical teams and other staff under her supervision
with a spirit of mentorship, positive correction, and any support as the need arises.
She has previously worked on the Makerere University-Walter Reed project, the Makerere
University John Hopkins University (MUJHU) Research collaboration as well as a
paediatrician at Mildmay International, Masaka regional referral hospital, Mulago national
referral hospital, and Nsambya Hospital Integrated HIV/AIDS Home Care Project.
She holds a Masters’ degree in Master of Medicine (Paediatrics) from Makerere University and
an M.B.Ch.B from Makerere University. She has also completed a course on Introduction to
clinical research from John Hopkins University Institute of Clinical Research & translational
research, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She is pursuing an online course on project management
and has several certificates that she has acquired during her work experience.
She has won awards for some of her research work such as the CFAR (Centre for AIDS
Research) Award in 2012. She also partnered with her mentor, Dr. Lisa Butler, to win an R01
NIH-funded grant entitled “Comparative Effectiveness of Paediatric HIV disclosure
interventions in Uganda.” Together with a team of other paediatric clinicians from the African
Network for the Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (ANECCA), they developed a
handbook on counseling and psycho- social support for children and adolescents affected by
HIV in Africa.
DR. PETER KAYIIRA BYANSI
Board Member
DR. PETER KAYIIRA BYANSI
Board Member
Mr. Kayiira is a social development and health leader with twenty-one years of experience in
developing and leading health and social development initiatives in Uganda, Kenya, and
Ethiopia. He is the Founding Director of Africa Social Development and Health Initiatives, an
organization engaged in enabling children, youth, and women in fishing and underserved
communities in Uganda to realize their full potential.
He has previously worked at the Center for African leadership studies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
as the Director, Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi as a lecturer, Africa Social Development and Health Initiatives (ASDHI) as Founding Director, and Kamwokya Christian Caring
Community as a Fundraising and Resource Mobilization Manager among others.
He has also undertaken various research and consultancy jobs with clients such as United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Uganda Ministry of Health, Pathfinder International
Uganda, The AIDs Support Organization (TASO), Food for the Hungry International, FHI 360,
Community Health Alliance Uganda, International Rescue Committee, Cheshire Services
Uganda, FARST Africa, Mildmay Uganda, Ministry of Health, Uganda and Intrahealth
International, Pathfinder International Boston, International Center for Research on Women,
Washington among others.
He holds a Masters of Science in Social Development and Health from Queen Margaret
University, Edinburgh, and a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business
Administration from United States International University-Africa, Nairobi. He is pursuing a
Ph.D. in health services leadership from Walden University, Minneapolis. He has also
conducted research and co-authored papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented at several
national and international conferences.
DR. ALLEN M. KABAGENYI
Board Member
DR. ALLEN M. KABAGENYI
Board Member
Dr. Kabagenyi is a demographer with eight years of working experience in the field of
population and reproductive health issues. She is a lecturer at the School of Public Health
teaching demography and health. She sits on the board of Samasha Medical Foundation and
College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University.
She has previously worked at the Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics and
Planning-College of Business and Management Sciences Makerere University as a lecturer,
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public in collaboration with Bill Melinda
Gates foundation project for Evaluation of International Family Planning Conferences 2009-
2016 as a consultant, DHRH Project, Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), CARE
International, AMREF, University of Michigan –Survey methodology program as a Survey
Sampling Statistician and a KISH fellow, WACI (Wakiso Community Initiatives) as a Lead
Consultant / Principal Investigator.
She holds a Ph.D. in Demography/Population Studies. She is a member of the Population
Association of America (PAA), the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population
(IUSSP), the International Association of Survey Statisticians (IASA), the Uganda Statistical
Society (USS), the Demographers Without Borders (DWB) and the Uganda Society for Health
Scientists (USHS).
She has done several research projects and had her research work published.
DR. KIZITO DEO LUKYAMUZI
Board Member
DR. KIZITO DEO LUKYAMUZI
Board Member
Dr. Kizito, Deo Lukyamuzi, is a healthcare practitioner, specialising as a surgeon with 15 years of experience in general surgery, and gastroenterology in addition to mainly diagnostic endoscopy, open and laparoscopic surgery. He worked at Kitovu Hospital in Masaka as a Medical Officer (November 1997 - November 1999) and General Surgeon (August 2003 - April 2007) carrying out selected general surgical operations and other medical duties. He later moved to St Francis’ Hospital, Nsambya as Consultant General Surgeon for six years (June 2007 - May 2014) before joining Case Medical Centre as Consultant General Surgeon since April 2007 to date where he carries out general surgery and gastroenterology in addition to mainly diagnostic endoscopy, open and laparoscopic surgery. He holds a diploma in anesthesia from Mulago Paramedical School, a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University, and a Master’s degree in Surgery from the University of Nairobi.
DAMALIE TIBUGWISA
Board Member
DAMALIE TIBUGWISA
Board Member
Damalie Tibugwisa is a seasoned Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and the Managing Partner
at TARA Advocates, an award-winning commercial law firm. Damalie is also a chartered Secretary,
Insolvency Practitioner and Certified Legal Auditor with expertise in various legal areas, including
corporate law, labour law, tax, estate planning, legal audits, corporate governance, insolvency and
intellectual property. She has a proven track record in litigation, having represented clients in both
Courts and Tax Appeals Tribunals.
Her legal consultancy services cater to multiple sectors, from business to energy and to
telecommunications, often involving complex multi-jurisdictional matters. She provides
international companies guidance on navigating Uganda's regulatory environment and strategic
advice on high-value arbitration cases.
Damalie is highly qualified having studied at institutions such as the Institute of Chartered Secretaries
and Administrators UK (ICSA), Makerere University(Bachelors of Law and Masters in Law(1), Law
Development Center(Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice), London School of Business
(Certificate in Business Brand Management), WIPO Academy(Certificate in Intellectual Property),
and Train with Clarity Kenya(Certificate in Legal Audit). She has also contributed to legal literature,
with articles published across various platforms, including Uganda Legal Information Institute, The
CEO East Africa, and New Vision etc.
As a leader, Damalie has grown TARA Advocates from a small team to a high-performing firm with
8 lawyers, earning several accolades. She has also served as President and Vice President of the BNI
Integrity Chapter and holds positions as a Company Secretary and Board Member for several other
entities.
Damalie is a member of numerous professional and business bodies, including the Uganda Law
Society, East Africa Law Society, Business Network International and World Wide Independent
Lawyers League. She is also involved in mentorship and charitable initiatives, especially in support
of the girl child/women with Girls4Girls Foundation and The Awakened Woman Ltd respectively
In addition to her legal work, Damalie is passionate about training and has conducted sessions on
various topics, such as intellectual property and business law, Estate planning, corporate governance,
Human Resources, etc.
Personal Interests:
Passionate about culinary arts, travel, reading, and networking.