The team behind the Centre

Richard M. Watenyera

Director

Managing Director of Express Media Group, Richard brings media, communications and organisational leadership to the Centre's board, strengthening how JM-CCER tells its story and builds its public presence.

Mariam Nalubega

Director

Mariam is a Ugandan development professional with strategic and policy-level leadership experience and strong analytical skills. She served as Assistant Director of Research and Development at the International Network for Education in East Africa, where she directed research programmes, supported grant applications and represented the research team on decision-making committees. She has also worked as Programs Manager at Butterfly Youth Foundation and as Administrative Secretary at In Movement: Art for Social Change. In education governance, she is Vice Chairperson of the Board of Governors at Kansanga Seed School, where she contributes to policy development, budget oversight and strategic planning.

• BA Development Studies, Kampala International University
• Certificate in Project Planning and Management, Kampala International University
• Certificate in Computer Applications
• Vice Chairperson, Board of Governors, Kansanga Seed School
• Strategic leadership, research design and stakeholder engagement

Hon. Albert

Director

A director of the Centre, Hon. Albert brings public leadership experience and a strong network in service of the organisation's mission.

Elizabeth Okello

Board Member

Elizabeth is a Counselling Psychologist and educator with deep experience across school, hospital and community settings. She is the sitting President of the Uganda Counseling Association and serves as Dean of the School of Applied Sciences at the Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences. Her clinical strengths span child and adolescent counselling, marriage and family therapy, EMDR trauma therapy and HIV counselling, and she is passionate about harnessing the potential of individuals and communities to build resilience in the face of daily challenges. She also chairs the advisory board of CONNEXA East Africa and serves on the Board of Trustees of Inspire Synergy.

• MA Counselling Psychology, Makerere University
• BA Education, Makerere University
• President, Uganda Counseling Association
• Dean, School of Applied Sciences, Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences
• EMDR trauma therapy, marriage and family therapy, HIV counselling

Ida Namuli Doreen

Board Member, Head of Partnerships and Communications

Ida is Co-founder and Head of Partnerships and Communications at Inclusion Support Uganda, with 15 years of experience in disability inclusion. Her expertise spans disability programming, resource mobilisation, safeguarding and inclusive structures, and the development of Individualised Education Plans that help children with disabilities learn and thrive.

• BSc Human Development, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi
• Certificate in Community-Based Rehabilitation
• Certificate in Access to Finance
• 15 years of experience in disability inclusion

Kato Godfrey Bukenya

Board Member

Godfrey is a humanitarian and development professional with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience across Uganda and the East and Horn of Africa region. He currently works with IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and has mobilised and managed multi-donor programmes funded by USAID, CDC, the EU, BMZ/GIZ, UN agencies, the Civil Society Fund and Irish Aid. His technical depth spans orphan and vulnerable children programming, education, livelihoods, refugee and migration management, counter-trafficking and public health, with a strong record in project cycle management, monitoring and evaluation, and translating policy into community-led change.

• MSc Organisation Management and Public Policy, Kyambogo University
• BA Social Work and Social Administration, Uganda Christian University
• Master of Public Health (Health Promotion), Uganda Martyrs University (awaiting graduation)
• Project Management for Development Professionals (PMD Pro) certification
• Over 15 years across humanitarian and development programming

Kampogo

Board Member

A member of the board, supporting the Centre's oversight and its commitment to community-led development.

Mogeni Obed

Director of ICT

Obed leads the Centre's information and communications technology, shaping the digital backbone that lets our training and services reach far beyond a single office.

John Ssenyonjo

Head of ICT Training

John is an IT specialist and educator with more than a decade of experience in systems and network administration, infrastructure and digital training. He served as System Administrator and later Acting Director of ICT at Kampala International University, where he led strategic technology planning, cyber security, infrastructure stability and team leadership, and he currently lectures at Limkokwing University. At JM-CCER he leads ICT training, guiding learners from their first contact with a computer all the way to applied digital and AI skills that open real economic opportunity.

• PhD Management Information Systems (ongoing), Kampala International University
• MSc Management Information Systems, Kampala International University
• BSc Information Technology, Kampala International University
• CCNA, MCSA and A+ certified; hands-on Linux and Windows Server trainer

Nabwembe Allen

Office Administrator and Financial Controller

Allen is the Centre's Office Administrator and Financial Controller, keeping operations running smoothly day to day. She brings administrative and financial experience from the Bank of Uganda accounts department, the National Association of Social Workers of Uganda, Prudential Assurance and Divine Leisure Centre, covering budgeting, record keeping, reporting and the smooth running of busy organisations.

• Bachelor's Degree in Project Planning and Management
• Certificate of Proficiency in Insurance Management
• Administration and finance experience across banking, insurance and NGOs

Sarah Nayebare

Mental Health Director

Sarah is Programs Director at Teen Challenge Uganda, with 5 years of experience in mental health, trauma recovery and community wellness. Her focus is simple: break stigma, build resilience, and make healing practical, so that individuals can fulfil their potential.

Robbinson Adriko

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

Robbinson is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning professional with over seven years of experience designing and implementing MEL systems, impact evaluations and learning frameworks for donor-funded programmes. He has worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Grameen Foundation, USAID, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children and the International Trade Centre across public health, agriculture, livelihoods, youth employment and refugee programming. He builds the evidence that lets the Centre learn as it delivers and show partners exactly what is working.

• Master's in Management Studies (ongoing)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation
• Certificate in Data Analysis; Bachelor's in Social Work
• Proficient in Kobo, ODK, CommCare, Power BI and Looker Studio

Geoffrey Ochwo

Head of Communication

Geoffrey is a studio instructor in the Department of Journalism and Communication Studies at Cavendish University Uganda and Communications Officer at NASWU. An award-nominated film script writer, producer, editor and graphic designer, he brings deep newsroom and production experience to how the Centre communicates its work, with a script nominated at the Uganda Film Festival.

• MA Journalism and Media Studies (ongoing), Uganda Christian University
• Bachelor of Mass Communication, Kampala International University
• Head of Productions, Express Media Group
• Proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro, InDesign, Photoshop and SPSS

Solome Namono

Financial Adviser

Solome advises the Centre on financial management and stewardship, helping ensure that every shilling reaches the communities at the heart of our work.

Opuno Charles

Youth Project Coordinator

Charles is the Centre's Youth Project Coordinator, working hand in hand with the organisational framework to deliver programmes that support young people. A finalist Social Work and Social Administration student at Kampala International University, he has served as Sports Minister and as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for the Teso Students Development Association, and completed internships with the National Association of Social Workers of Uganda. He has also coordinated a safe male circumcision project in Soroti and remains a committed community footballer.

• BA Social Work and Social Administration (finalist), Kampala International University
• Internships with the National Association of Social Workers of Uganda
• Former Project Coordinator, safe male circumcision project, Soroti

Nansubuga Lydia Gillian

Volunteer and Youth Leader

Lydia is a youth leader and third-year Social Sciences student at Makerere University. She has been active in climate change work for over two years through community outreach and tree planting, and is currently interning at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation to help provide clean and safe water for healthy lives in her community.