Board Of Directors
Youth Alive Uganda's Board of Directors provides strategic direction, ensuring we remain a dynamic and influential voice in holistic youth development.

Mr. Patrick Okello Okumu-Omony
Board ChairpersonMr. Okello is the Strategy and Institutional Development Advisor at the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, with more than 15 years of experience in organizational development, micro and small enterprise development, social entrepreneurship, development finance, rural and community development, logistics and procurement management.
His background spans project concept development, strategic and enterprise resource planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability, and stakeholder and partnership coordination, including coaching, training and mentorship.
He has previously worked with Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate, the Archdiocese of Gulu, a consortium of international humanitarian agencies led by CARITAS Switzerland, CARITAS Torit / Catholic Diocese of Torit, St. Joseph's College Ombaci, the National Association of Parents of Deaf Children in Uganda, Cordaid Microfinance Investment in South Sudan, GWED-G, and IFAD / Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, among others.
He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship for Impact from Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, jointly with Uganda Martyrs University; an MSc in Development Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Germany; a Bachelor of Arts in Microfinance and Community Economic Development from Uganda Martyrs University-Nkozi; and is Part Qualified ACCA and CPA (Kenya). He has completed further certifications from institutions including the US Institute for Peace, the Project Management Institute, and the European Commission in Uganda.

Mrs. Cecilia Najjemba Mukasa Kabanda
Vice Board ChairpersonMrs. Mukasa was a board member for Katutandike Uganda, heading the ECD committee, and was also a Team Leader for the Transform for Life Program at Kampala Baptist Church.
She has previously worked at Coach Africa as Associate Trainer, at Youth Alive as an Associate Trainer / Mentor, at the Uganda Media Women's Association as a part-time Organization Development Specialist and Trainer, at the National Council of Leonard Cheshire Services in Uganda as Coordinator and Secretary to the National Council, and on the True Love Waits Project as Coordinator, among others.
She holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Research Methods from the Centre for Basic Research, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Uganda Management Institute, a Certificate in Facilitating Individual and Organization Development, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Social Administration and Political Science) from Makerere University.
She has attended numerous short courses, including PIASCY training of trainers at the Ministry of Education and Sports, child welfare and protection policy development with the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network, and community-based rehabilitation training, among others.

Dr. Monica Etima
Board MemberDr. Etima works with PEPFAR-funded projects in Uganda that care for about 50,000 HIV-positive children and adults in Central Uganda. She is a Senior Paediatrician and Researcher with over fifteen years of experience in paediatrics, HIV care and multi-site, multinational research.
She also serves as a Board member of a drug addiction center in Uganda, sits on the Boards of Serenity Centre Uganda and Emmaus School of Evangelization Luwero, and is a member of the Uganda National Paediatrics ART Subcommittee.
She has previously worked on the Makerere University-Walter Reed project and the Makerere University-John Hopkins University research collaboration, and as a paediatrician at Mildmay International, Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, Mulago National Referral Hospital, and the Nsambya Hospital Integrated HIV/AIDS Home Care Project.
She holds a Master of Medicine (Paediatrics) and an MBChB, both from Makerere University, plus training from Johns Hopkins University's Institute of Clinical Research. She won the CFAR (Centre for AIDS Research) Award in 2012, and partnered with mentor Dr. Lisa Butler to secure an R01 NIH-funded grant on paediatric HIV disclosure interventions in Uganda.

Dr. Peter Kayiira Byansi
Board MemberMr. Kayiira is a social development and health leader with twenty-one years of experience 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 (ASDHI).
He has previously worked at the Center for African Leadership Studies in Addis Ababa as Director, at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi as a lecturer, and at Kamwokya Christian Caring Community as Fundraising and Resource Mobilization Manager, among others.
He has undertaken research and consultancy work for clients including UNFPA, the Uganda Ministry of Health, Pathfinder International, TASO, FHI 360, the International Rescue Committee and Mildmay Uganda, among others.
He holds an MSc in Social Development and Health from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration from United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, and is pursuing a PhD in Health Services Leadership at Walden University.

Dr. Allen M. Kabagenyi
Board MemberDr. Kabagenyi is a demographer with eight years of experience in population and reproductive health. She lectures demography and health at the School of Public Health, and sits on the boards of the Samasha Medical Foundation and the College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University.
She has previously worked at the Department of Population Studies, Makerere University; with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and as a Survey Sampling Statistician with the University of Michigan's Survey Methodology Program, among other roles.
She holds a PhD in Demography/Population Studies, and is a member of the Population Association of America, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, the International Association of Survey Statisticians, the Uganda Statistical Society, and the Uganda Society for Health Scientists.

Dr. Kizito Deo Lukyamuzi
Board MemberDr. Kizito Deo Lukyamuzi is a healthcare practitioner specialising as a surgeon, with 15 years of experience in general surgery and gastroenterology, including diagnostic endoscopy and open and laparoscopic surgery.
He worked at Kitovu Hospital, Masaka as Medical Officer and later General Surgeon, before moving to St. Francis' Hospital, Nsambya as Consultant General Surgeon for six years, and subsequently to Case Medical Centre, where he continues to practise.
He holds a diploma in anaesthesia 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 MemberDamalie Tibugwisa is a seasoned Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and Managing Partner at TARA Advocates, an award-winning commercial law firm. She is also a Chartered Secretary, Insolvency Practitioner and Certified Legal Auditor across corporate law, labour law, tax, estate planning and corporate governance.
Her consultancy work spans business, energy and telecommunications, often involving complex multi-jurisdictional matters, and she advises international companies on Uganda's regulatory environment and high-value arbitration.
She studied at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators UK, Makerere University (Bachelor of Law and Master of Law), the Law Development Centre, the London School of Business, WIPO Academy and Train with Clarity Kenya, and has contributed articles to the Uganda Legal Information Institute, The CEO East Africa and New Vision, among others.
She has grown TARA Advocates from a small team to a firm of 8 lawyers, has served as President and Vice President of the BNI Integrity Chapter, and holds Company Secretary and Board Member roles for several other entities. She is a member of the Uganda Law Society, East Africa Law Society and Business Network International, and mentors young women through Girls4Girls Foundation and The Awakened Woman Ltd.