Board of Directors (Uganda)
Our heartfelt thanks go out to our Uganda Board members for their diligent guidance &
service
Rev. Canon Grace Nyonyozi Ndyabahika
Rev. Canon Grace Ndyabahika, (wife to the late Rev Canon Professor James F. Ndyabahika) is a renown theologian,
preacher, teacher, Women’s Liberation
Theologist, Church Priest and
Counselor, wife and mother of three (3). She holds a Master of Arts (MA) – Pastoral Theology & Liberation Ethics from Episcopal Divinity College in Cambridge, Massachusetts and her areas of specialization are Pastoral Theology, Liberation Ethics and Counseling.
Apart from her pastoral work, she has always been passionate
about charity work and improving lives of people in the
community she serves in. She has served on many boards including serving on the National Committee for the famous Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO).
Peter Paul Odeke
Treasurer
Peter is currently serving as Senior Public Affairs Officer in the Parliament of Uganda. He has more than 10 years experience in Parliamentary and Government Protocol and is currently a member of the National Organising Committee (NOC) of Government, which plans for all events of a national character.
Peter is a Graduate of Political Science and German language from Makerere University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration and Management at Uganda Management Institute (UMI).
He is a Christian and is married with three sons.
Mr. Sam Arinaitwe
Secretary
Sam Arinaitwe is the current Chairman of Kabale Municipal Council – Central Division (LC3).
Before this he was elected as Kabale district youth Chairman, popular for his relentless advocacy for jobs and opportunity for youth. During this period, he joined Grace Villa as the Project Manager, where he served for 3 years.
He holds a degree in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and is married to Doreen Arinaitwe
Hon Miria R. K Matembe
Board Member
Hon Miria R. K Matembe, LL.D (Honoris causa). Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from University of Victoria, 2007
Dr Miria Matembe is one of, if not the strongest voice, proponent and advocate of women’s rights in Uganda. As a child, her dream was to be a lawyer to plead and work for women. After she achieved this, her dream was to get into Parliament and change the law for better equality for women. For over two decades, she was a member of Uganda’s parliament.
She worked in the Ugandan government as Minister for Ethics and Integrity from 1998 to 2003, after which she became a member of the PanAfrican Parliament representing Uganda. In 1990, she was the deputy general of the Pan-African Congress.
She is born again, and is married to Mr Nekemia Matembe. Together, they are proud parents of 4 sons and 4 daughters in love, and lots of grandchildren.
Mrs Jocelyn Rugunda
Board Member
Mrs Rugunda is the wife to Uganda’s prime minister RT Hon Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and together they have four sons.
Passionate about humanitarian work, she is a patron to Faces of Children with Leukemia, an NGO dedicated to the mobilization of resources and care for children suffering from this form of cancer. She is also passionate about women and health and she was pivotal in the mobilization of resources for the purchase of a mobile mammography machine unit for the Uganda Cancer Institute.
The machine will help bring more screening services to women in villages who might not be able to walk long distances to referral hospitals for screening.
She is also the patron of Kabale Women Savings and Credit Organization (SACCO), and is an avid farmer.
Hon. Ninsiima Rona Rita
Board Member
Hon Ninsiima is the former women member of parliament for Kabale District. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Makerere University and a Diploma in Business Management from International Professions Academy.
Prior to joining Parliament, Hon. Ninsiima served as a News Anchor for Voice of Kigezi and for Radio West where she distinguished herself as an avid campaigner against child abuse, domestic violence and household poverty.
She has a passion for helping disadvantaged people, having been born and raised with a humble background. While in Parliament, Hon. Ninsiima championed maternal health and the continuous education for the girl child.
Prince Hassan Kimbugwe
Board Member
A highly respected influential Prince from the Buganda Monarchy, brings unrivalled contacts and influence at the highest levels in the Private Sector and Government.
He has initiated and enabled several large investments in various sectors that include Telecoms, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Agriculture and Renewable Energy into Uganda.
He is known for his tenacity in ensuring that complex investments, often in partnership with Government, come to realisation while adhere to the highest standards of international best practice.
He calls upon his extensive knowledge of various nuances of African culture and business to successfully manage challenging negotiations in various sectors with Government and the Private sector.
Prince Kimbugwe is an avid lover of the African Arts
Ruth K. Ndyabahika
CEO
Ruth Ndyabahika is a Ugandan – American Child Psychologist. She uses her platform to advocate and lobby for the rights of marginalized children and the development of her country Uganda.
A graduate of Northeastern University and Wheelock College respectively, she began her career in Boston, MA..
Recognized for her philanthropic and lobbying efforts by The Jane Goodall Institute, OXFAM International, the Diamond Awards, Rotary International, Lions Club International, the Ugandan Diaspora Award for Philanthropy, she has received invitations to Harvard University, Williams College and Voice of America’s Straight Talk Africa to speak about her journey, and even received a letter of commendation from Senator Edward Kennedy.
Today she lives in the hills of Kabale at Grace Villa sanctuary with the children she serves.