Leonard Okello
Leonard is a political scientist with extensive local and international service in development work, advocacy, and campaigns for health, democracy, and accountability. While at Uganda’s Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development and Oxfam International, Leonard led the Uganda Participatory Poverty Assessment Process through which the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, the Poverty Action Fund, the Plan for Modernising Agriculture, the National Agricultural Advisory Services and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund.
Leonard later joined Actionaid International as the International Head for HIV/AIDS Programmes, where he actively led the universal access to treatment campaigns. Leonard returned to Uganda where he briefly served as the Country Director at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. He has since set up The Uhuru Institute for Social Development a social business using business acumen to promote citizens’ collective action for social and economic empowerment, defense of human rights, and nurturing democratic practice.
Jane Amuge Okello
Jane is a Co-founder and Operations Director at the Uhuru Institute for Social Development. She brings on board:
- Over 14 years of entrepreneurial experience from running businesses in finance, tourism, travel, and logistics.
- Over 9 years’ mentorship and coaching knowledge and expertise, in entrepreneurship, organizational development, cooperative business practice, emotional intelligence, financial literacy, insurance, and wealth management.
- Over 10 years’ in Financial and wealth advisory with experience and vast knowledge in complex investment products and financing solutions having worked closely with Uganda’s Capital Markets Authority as well as local and international finance companies like Sanlam, Goldman Sachs, Standard Group, Generali Group, Royal London 360 and Old Mutual amongst others. Working with international companies has reinforced her understanding of the geo-economic and political aspects that shape the global agenda.
- Over 8 years in undertaking Social Work, Policy, and Research assignments and coordinating economic and social development programs at local and regional levels.
Jane holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (finance) from Uganda Martyrs’ University (Nkozi); A bachelor of Social Works and Social Administration from Makerere University Kampala; International certificates in Securities & Investments and Wealth Management from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments, UK and certificates in Insurance practice from the Insurance Institute of Uganda.
Miriam Nakakooza
Prior to joining TUI, Miriam trained with the Civil Aviation Authority as an Accounts Assistant which ignited her passion for Accounting and Finance. Miriam is highly efficient and very skilled in Cash management, accounting principles and practices, events planning, management and coordination, and logistics planning and management.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a specialty in accounting.
Bekar Ismail
Bekar is a computer enthusiast, passionate about technology, a tech researcher, and a tech blogger. He has an infinite enthusiasm for technology, super passionate about product design and development, and technopreneurship.
He joins The Uhuru Institute and the cooperative movement with a vision to provide online visibility to all cooperatives around the country.