Board of Directors

Mr. Xavier Ejoyi

Board Chairperson

Xavier Mindrea Cosmas Ejoyi is an accomplished professional dedicated to advancing democratic governance, rule of law, and human dignity. He currently serves as the Country Director for ActionAid International Uganda, where he provides thought leadership, manages a substantial annual budget, and oversees a team of over 100 staff across 15 field offices. His work involves leading governance programming, strategic partnerships, and innovative citizen engagement programs focused on youth and women, all while maintaining a coherent advocacy agenda and ensuring organizational efficiency and impact. Before his tenure at ActionAid, Xavier held significant roles at USAID, the Institute for Security Studies, and DANIDA, where he led various high-stakes projects in democracy, human rights, governance, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution. His extensive experience includes managing multi-million-dollar portfolios, conducting research and policy analysis, and coordinating donor efforts and high-level visits. Xavier has consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate complex multi-stakeholder processes, deliver strategic communications, and drive impactful programs. His commitment to promoting social justice and inclusive development is evident in his leadership roles and the numerous successful initiatives he has spearheaded throughout his career.

Ms. Barbra Babweteera

Board Vice Chairperson

She is the Executive Director of the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda. Previously, served in the same organization as the Deputy Executive Director for 4 years. Board Member for Centre for Women in Governance. Prior to joining CCFU, she worked with Plan International based in Uganda in various capacities for seven 7 years with projects aimed at redressing social exclusion and marginalization of especially women, young boys and girls and people affected with HIV and AIDS.

Master’s degree in management science and a bachelor’s degree in law. Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and recently obtained a certificate as a facilitator for organizational learning and development from EASUN. Member of the Uganda Law Society, Member of the East African Law Society and a member of The Association of Female Lawyers in Uganda.

Dr Moses Isooba

Board Secretary

Dr. Moses Isooba is the executive director of the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) – a sharing and reflection Platform of National and INGOs in Uganda. Prior to joining UNNGOF, Dr Isooba was a governance advisor with ActionAid Denmark. He also worked as the Programme Coordinator of the Civil and Political Rights Component of DANIDA’s Human Rights and Good Governance Programme in Uganda.

He is currently a member of the Re-Imagining INGOs (RINGO) Social Lab – a group of Practitioners reimagining INGOs through disruption, innovation and systematic thinking. Under RINGO, Dr. Isooba is the idea carrier of the Language and Lexicon prototype.

Mr. Feni Twaib

Member

Mr. James Love

Member

Mr. Paul Mulindwa

Board Treasurer

14 years of progressive Development Management practice, mainly in rights & governance, institutional development, partnerships for programs or specific one-off events, and capacity development activities especially for civil society organizations and local governments. Worked as the Community Development Officer (CDO) with Kibaale District Local Government for 2 years before joining the Civil Society. At Kitara Civil Society Organisations Network (KCSON), started as a Program Coordinator facilitating the implementation of programs, and later assuming the role of the Executive Director since 2016.

Master of Science in Development Management; Master of Management Studies – Business Administration (MMS-BA) and a Bachelors of Development Studies, in addition to various post graduate short course trainings obtained from Uganda and elsewhere.

Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe

Independent Member

Mwalimu Musheshe is co-founder of the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programmme (URDT) He is also founder of African Rural University and other institutions especially for the unprivileged girl child, like the URDT Girls School, URDT Institute, Nkondo Secondary School and Kanywamiyaga Primary school. In partnership with the communities of Kagadi, he founded the Kagadi Kibaale Community Radio, KKCR 91.7. He sought to address the missing link in development programmes, the merger of functional education, training and participatory action research using the principles of creating and systems thinking. With his work he has changed how academics, policy makers, and businesspeople approach rural development issues with over 40 years of experience in this field.

Mwalimu Musheshe holds a PhD. in Global Environmental Leadership, MSc in Management Development, Post Graduate Certificate in Adult and Pedagogical Education, Certificate in Canaan Mindset Pioneering Course for National Transformation. He has been variously recognized as a visionary and selfless leader; awarded by three Rotary Clubs in Uganda. In 2007 he was nominated by the readers of The New Vision as one of the seven Champions of Change in Uganda. In 2013 he received a prestigious Presidential Golden Jubilee Medal for his work in Rural Transformation using Innovations and Creative approaches.

He is currently the Vice Chancellor of African Rural University, Member of the Uganda Vice Chancellors Forum, he serves on a number of board committees e.g. Board Chair URDT, Chair of Hunger Project Uganda, Chairman of the East Africa Community Media Project (Mangel’ete in Kenya, Orkoneri Eadio in Terrat Masai land in Tanzania and Kibaale Kagadi Community Radio (KKCR) 91.7 FM in Uganda), Member of the Expanded Board National Planning Authority Committee and the first Ashoka Fellow in the East Africa (an International Organization for Social Entrepreneurs i.e. people who invest for the public). He previously served as a Member of the Board – National Environment Management Authority; Board Chairman – National Agricultural Advisory Services; and as a Senior Advisor to the King of Bunyoro Kitara on Development Matters.

Dr. Akim Okuni

Independent Member

Education and Development Policy and Programming Specialist, with at least 15 years of national level engagement in evidence-based education sector strategic policy dialogue and advice with the government of Uganda, as well as local level community out-reach work and experience designing and implementing, and researching, education programs in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Won the World Bank Group FY06 Support Award for valuable contribution to the Education Sector (in Uganda). An early career academic with 15+ years of qualitative research experience and teaching university courses on undergraduate and postgraduate levels at Makerere University and Islamic University in Uganda. I have supervised Masters’ degree dissertations, published 10+ articles in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, and co-edited and authored up to seven books on capacity building in qualitative (educational) research methodology, school improvement and early childhood development in East Africa, deepening the understanding of poverty and the multidimensional factors and dynamics of moving out of poverty, and on post-colonial (cultural) studies in Africa.

PhD in Education; MPhil in Modern Poetry in English; Postgraduate Diploma in Education BA with Honours in Literature in English.

Hajji Sulaiman Walugendo Kyesa

Member

He is the National Coordinator at the Uganda Muslim Rural Development Association since 1992.

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Rural Economy.

Ms. Margaret Nakato

Member

Ms. Margaret Nakato is the current Coordinator, Katosi Women Development Trust. She is passionate about rural development; engaging rural communities with special emphasis on women to initiate and manage economic, social and political development processes. She believes in empowering women to take on these strategic roles will contribute to sustainable development.

Master of Science in Development Management and Bachelor of Arts (Human and Social Studies) Specialization in Community Development.

Ms.Eva Magambo

Member

Ag. Executive Director of the Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health. She has over 25 years of professional working experience with local, international NGOs, private and public sectors. Extensive experience in health promotion, humanitarian and development programming. Frontrunner for numerous health management and development projects (malaria, HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, economic empowerment for women, digital empowerment).

Strongly skilled in community, youth and women empowerment, child and social protection, human rights-based approaches, governance, health, relief and livelihood programs. Extensively worked with numerous groups including women farmers, adolescents and key populations. Expertise covers people management, nurturing and sustaining strategic partnerships, networks and coordination, systems strengthening, referrals, research and knowledge management.

Enthusiastic about monitoring and evaluation, results mobilization, team building and collective effort. Holds a Master in Global Bioethics, Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work and Social Administration.