OUR TEAM
Monica Nyiraguhabwa
Executive Director & Co-founder
Monica has over ten years of experience in the areas of girls’ education and social empowerment. She is skilled in fundraising, leading and organizing trainings and educational campaigns, community mobilization, human relations, and facilitation. Monica holds an MA in Education, Gender and International Development from the University College of London and a BA in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University. She is an Obama Africa Leader Fellow, Perennial Fellow, Cordes Fellow, and African Visionary Fellow.
Marion Achom
Head of Operations
Marion holds a Bachelor’s degree in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University and is currently pursuing a post-graduate diploma in Project Planning and Management to further develop her skills. During her 5 years with GUIU, she has gained knowledge and experiences in youth-friendly and community-minded programming. She is passionate and dedicated to her work, and believes that mentorship is critical in building resilient, informed, and empowered girls. Marion is a professional trainer in reusable pad-making and has passed on the skill to many young people and women throughout Uganda. In her free time, Marion enjoys sharing the word of God with others, traveling and watching movies.
Clare Tusingwire
Head of Programs
Clare is a passionate community worker and a graduate in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University. She has devoted her life to inspiring people. For nine years, Clare has been reaching out to people in different communities in Uganda and changing their lives. She previously worked at the Maendeleo Foundation and the AIDS Information Center before joining Bead for Life as Membership Officer where she worked for the past seven years. Having a stutter in her speech at a tender age never discouraged her from achieving her dream of public speaking and guiding and counseling individuals.
Teopista Nakiguli
Institutional Accountant
Teopista is currently pursuing a Certified Public Accounting certification as part of her professional development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from Kyambogo University. She is self-motivated, hardworking, and goal-oriented, and has a passion for work that benefits her community.
Jane Tumushabe
Project Accountant
Jane is a graduate of Accounting and Finance from Kyambogo University Kampala. She is self-driven, committed, and dedicated to her work as an Accountant. She is passionate about helping and encouraging young girls to stay in school and realize their dreams no matter their situation. She is motivated to continue her support of GUIU as we realize our mission and vision to live in a gender-equal world. Jane is currently pursuing a Certified Public Accountancy course as part of her professional development.
Miriam Akera
Partnership Officer
Miriam holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Kyambogo University and a master's in Economic Policy Management from Makerere University. She has been working as a field officer throughout Uganda with IPA, UBOS, and other research firms for the past 7 years. Miriam has a great interest in development work, working with young people, and seeing their lives transform for the better. In her free time, she enjoys reading a good book and exploring the beauty of nature.
Ivan Kenneth Opio
Communications Officer
Ivan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University. He is a visual data developer passionate about using digital platforms to influence positive social change, particularly focusing on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, and human rights. He has helped strengthen GUIU's online presence by creating social media content, such as storytelling videos, podcasts, vlogs, graphics, and photographs. He believes social media is a great influencing tool in this digital era because new technologies are always coming on board, and we should learn to embrace them.
Allan Denis Zziwa
Project Officer, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Zziwa is a graduate of Makerere University with a BA in Adult and Community Education. He has skills in monitoring, evaluation & learning, data analysis, leadership, facilitation, community mobilization, and human relations. He is an advocate for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) on a regional and national level. He is passionate about his family, children’s rights, community development, research, finding solutions to problems, and listening to music.
Joan Atimango
Program officer Adolescent Education, Child Protection Lead
Joan is a graduate of Makerere University with a Bachelor’s degree in Adult and Community Education. She is passionate about girls’ and women’s rights and uses her voice as a tool for advocacy. She also believes that through education and mentorship, great change will be created. Joan is a trained facilitator and an excellent team player. She enjoys sharing information and knowledge through her facilitations and podcasts. Joan is passionate about digital storytelling, counseling, reading, writing, and singing.
Dorothy Nafula
Program Officer, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Dorothy is a graduate of Makerere University with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a postgraduate diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation at Uganda Management Institute. She is a very dedicated young woman who enjoys working with data, and has skills in tools development, report writing, and working with girls to create positive change. In her time off from work, she likes traveling, spending time with loved ones, and meeting new people.
Fancy Sheila Aromorach
Program Assistant, Adolescent Girls Program
Since 2017, Fancy has been with GUIU as both a Champion of Change facilitator under the Ni-Yetu Youth Program and an Adolescent Girls Program Coach. As a young, female lawyer, Fancy is extremely passionate about using laws and policies as a tool for social transformation, especially for women and girls. She believes deeply in the power of safe spaces for young people and hopes to contribute to creating a society that holds itself accountable through effective, equitable practices. Fancy aspires to use her skills and knowledge to promote human rights, democracy, and equal access to opportunities for all.
Emmanuel Akabwai
Gender & Legal Consultant
Emmanuel holds a Bachelor's of Law from Makerere University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Tax and Revenue Administration. He is an advocate of the High Court of Uganda, and a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society. Emmanuel is passionate about empowering young people, children and human rights, gender justice, corporate governance, and tax justice. He believes that through community action, we can promote meaningful behavioral change in communities while building a movement that can fundamentally lead to gender equality in our society.
Shallon Nayebare
Project Officer She Leads
Shallon holds a bachelor's degree of Adult and Community Education from Makerere University and started her career development work with Girl Up Initiative Uganda. As a Program Officer for the Ni-Yetu Youth Program, she has built capacity for youths in Kampala with knowledge on reproductive health and violence prevention measures. She enjoys working with other actors such as police and local health workers to provide a conducive environment for young people to access services. Shallon is a lover of children, and in her free time she enjoys engaging within her community.
Clare Natukunda
Project Officer
Clare holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Science from Kyambogo University and a certificate diploma in Business Studies from YMCA Kampala. She is very passionate about providing psychosocial support to the victims and survivors of gender-based violence in her community. She also gets motivated when providing support and mentorship to the young women entrepreneurs when learning about business concepts.
Joan Atimango
Program Officer, Adolescent Education, Child Protection Lead
Joan is a graduate of Makerere University with a Bachelor’s degree in Adult and Community Education. She is passionate about girls’ and women’s rights and uses her voice as a tool for advocacy. She also believes that through education and mentorship, great change will be created. Joan is a trained facilitator and an excellent team player. She enjoys sharing information and knowledge through her facilitations and podcasts. Joan is passionate about digital storytelling, counseling, reading, writing, and singing.
Finance and Administrative Associate
Ekel Fiona
Project Officer, Niyetu Youth Program
Ekel is a vibrant and energetic young woman with a passion for advocating for sexual reproductive health and rights information to adolescent girls and youth within her community. She holds a diploma in Accounting and Finance and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Community Development and Social Justice at Kyambogo University. Before GUIU, she was a child and youth committee leader at the Kampala Area Federation of Communities. In her free time, she enjoys acting, swimming, traveling, making new friends, and mentoring young girls to be confident leaders.
Ambrose Lule
Finance and Administrative Associate
Ambrose holds Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Finance from Kyambogo University, as well as a Certificate in Computer Science. Before entering the non-profit space where he found his passion, Ambrose worked in the private banking sector. Ambrose is a versatile worker who enjoys mentoring and learning new things. In his free time, Ambrose loves to read and spend time with his beautiful daughter. As a life-long learner, he is currently pursuing a certification in Public Accounting.
Doreen Nasove
Program Officer, Mazuri Designs
Doreen holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialty in Marketing from Makerere University Business School, as well as a continuing education certificate in Computer Science. Doreen brings a diverse set of skills and experiences from the private banking sector and has a passion for marketing and client relations. Doreen is hardworking, self-motivated, and skilled in solving problems with creativity and team collaboration. She loves hanging out with friends and traveling to new places. Doreen is excited to support the growth of our Mazuri Designs Hub!
Sharon Kisuki Naigaga
Program Associate Counseling and
Psychosocial Support
Sharon is passionate about Early Childhood Development and believes that children, when supported and mentored, are resilient to overcome life’s challenges. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Kyambogo University and has worked as a Sexual and Reproductive Health educator and youth counselor for the girls and young women in our programs. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching soaps and reading a good book.
Vivian Acen
Project Officer,She Leads
Vivian brings over 8 years of experience in child rights, protection, mental health, and psychosocial support, specifically working with refugee and host communities throughout Uganda. Vivian holds a BA in Adult and Continuing Education from Makerere University and is a former YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) Fellow. Vivian loves listening to the untold stories of young girls and sees her dreams unfold when young girls embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential. She believes that people thrive when they are able to tell their stories and actively re-write their own narratives.
Jackie Akello
Project Officer,Niy-yetu Youth Program
Jacqueline is an emergency and development expert with a BA in Social Sciences and a Diploma in Secondary Education. Jackie has a rich understanding of the role that gender plays in inclusive livelihoods and data-collection and evaluation processes. She has worked with various NGOs and government entities, including Hope for Justice, International Foundation for Recovery and Development, and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Given her passion for gender justice, Jackie mentors a group of vulnerable young women in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, protection, financial budgeting, and entrepreneurship.
Bob Musasizi