IDEAS - Key Persons
Dr. David B. Matovu is a zoologist, a retired politician and a dedicated HIV/AIDS activist. He has done extensive work on the vector snails of schistosomiasis both at the East African Institute of Medical Research in Tanzania and at the Virus Research Institute in Uganda. He also served as the Member of Parliament of Entebbe Municipality for 17 years.
He trained as a zoologist at Cologne University and later got his Ph.D specializing in parasites, from the University of Wurzburg in Germany. During his time as a legislator, he co-sponsored both the establishment of the Health Service Commission as a Statutory Body and the HIV/AIDS Standing Committee in Parliament.
His vast leadership experience straddles across many areas. He currently chairs the Nkumba University Council. Prior to this he also chaired the Makerere University Council (1995-2002); the Appointments Board of Mbarara University of Science and Technology and The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) Board of Trustees (1999-2006). Furthermore he was Chairperson of the Health Board of the Namirembe Diocese Synod. He is currently an active member of the Lions International Club and heads the laity of St. John's Church of Uganda in Entebbe.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Professor of Medicine
Dr. Elly Katabira is a Professor of Medicine and former Deputy Dean for Research, Faculty of Medicine at Makerere University. He is the Clinical Advisor at the AIDS Clinic in Mulago Hospital and the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda. He is a pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS, having made countless contributions over the span of his career.
He trained as a medical doctor at Makerere University and later specialized in neurology at the University of Manchester. He actively participates in many International AIDS Society (IAS) activities such as co-chairing the IAS-Industry Liaison Forum and co-editing of the Journal of the IAS. He completed his two year term as President of the IAS in July 2012.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Executive Director
- Public Health Specialist
Dr. Lillian Sekabembe is a public health specialist with vast experience working in Uganda's health sector at both the community and national levels.
She holds a masters degree in public health and Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University; a diploma in management and leadership training for HIV/AIDS professionals in poor resource settings as well as specialized training in enterprise resource planning application; evidence based social marketing; sexual and reproductive health; malaria; child survival and health logistics management.
Lillian has key skills and proven experience in organizational development; decentralized as well as integrated health services delivery in Sub Saharan Africa and managing public private partnerships; human resources; monitoring and evaluation; procurement and distribution of health programs logistics. In addition, she has successfully set up and managed complex multi activity public health programs.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head and Management
Jonathan brings on board 15 years of Experience in leading programme design and M&E oversight for national and global studies including working with the academia like Harvard University and John Hopkins University to design and roll out RCTs and related cost-effective studies across the Africa region.
Jonathan is a seasoned Research and Evaluation professional with 15 years of Experience in leading Research, Monitoring and Evaluation efforts for different programmes in Africa spread across Agricultural livelihood and coffee value chains, SRH&R, HIV&AIDS, Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC), Gender, prevention and response to Violence against Children (VAC) and Research programs. Most recently, Jonathan worked as the Monitoring and Evaluation Lead for The Innovation Village through which he provides technical oversight for the MasterCard Funded Young Africa Works (YAW) Programme and the $2M Covid19 Recovery and Resilience Programme which both support initiatives to grow entrepreneurs (MSMEs) across the eco-system from Idea conceptualization to business maturity. Until end of January 2020, Jonathan worked for the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) as the senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Africa portfolio. In this role, he provided Research, Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning technical assistance for Agricultural Livelihoods, SRH&R, Gender as well as prevention and response to Violence against Children (VAC) programs across supported programmes in Africa region.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Social Development Expert
Ms. Sanyu Jane Mpagi is a gender and social development expert and is currently the Director for Gender and Community Development in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in Uganda. She has wide experience in policy analysis, programme development and implementation, of over 20 years. A big part of her career has been dedicated to promoting the rights of vulnerable children; older persons and people with disabilities.
Ms Mpagi is a holder of a Master's Degree in Development Studies from University of East Anglia, UK and BSc Degree in Agriculture from Makerere University. She has a wealth of knowledge in public administration and management; food science and nutrition; demographic issues; small and medium enterprises as well as social protection related issues.
Ms. Mpagi is a pioneer in promoting of gender equality and women's rights both nationally and internationally. Notably, she as supported the registration and mobilization of resources for a number of civil society organizations and alumni associations. Sanyu Jane actively participates in the negotiations of many global instruments and has published a number of articles on gender, women's empowerment and other social development issues.
Ms. Sheila is a public health and child protection specialist. Sheila has worked with a range of public, private, the UN, bilateral donors, indigenous and international civil society organizations in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa.
She holds three Masters Degrees in curriculum design and teaching from Makerere University; primary health care and promotion from Manchester University and, business leadership and administration from University of South Africa.
Sheila has a wealth of experience in HIV/ AIDS; child/social protection programming; civil society engagement and development; education; sexual and reproductive health; youth development and empowerment; food security; behavior and social change communication; gender programming and training; technical and organizational development for public and private sectors; advocacy, networking and collaboration. She has also been instrumental in HIV/AIDS poverty and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) related analysis lobbying and policy development in Uganda and the region.