Beatrice Bena Akwi
Beatrice Bena Akwi is the Administrative Associate at Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS) with the responsibility for acting as the point of contact for all employees, providing administrative support and managing their queries, among other things. Before joining GLISS, she had worked at several organizations building her skills in strategic management and Administration. But Prior to that, Bena served as an Admin Asst at Platform for Socio- Economic Transformation (PLASET) an NGO for one year and also as the Project Assistant for Early Childhood programme at BRAC-Uganda. She has done volunteer work and internships for several organisations including Katakwi District Local Government, Posta Uganda. Bena earned a postgraduate diploma in 2017 from Uganda Management Institute (UMI) in Procurement and supply chain management and a bachelor’s degree from Makerere
Daphine Natumanya
Daphine Natumanya is the Accounts Officer at GLISS. She provides accounts, financial management and administrative support at GLISS which includes keeping track of the financial incomes and daily expenses, budget implementation and accountabilities, filling of the statutory obligations for the staff and the organisation. She supports the chief financial director with the drafting of financial donor reports, managing the payroll among other tasks as assigned from time to time. She has acquired financial and accounting skills over the years, like the use of Quick Books and pivotal tables to analyse and present financial reports. Daphine holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Statistics from Makerere University and a Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from the same university - and is currently a student of CPA, and also pursuing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Uganda Management Institute.
Deborah Namaara
Deborah Namaara a Personal Assistant to the Executive Director of Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS). She is an accomplished Administrator and enjoys using her people skills to advance stakeholder management. She is exceptionally organised and well researched with demonstrated excellent communication skills which have helped her succeed. She also has an interest in interior designing and crocheting. She graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Social Sciences.
Godber W. Tumushabe
Godber W. Tumushabe is the Associate Director at the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies (www.glissafrica.org) and the founding Chief Executive Officer of Technology Frontiers Education Centre (http://www.tefecschools.org) - a proposed premier learning and skills training facility in Ntungamo District. He is a lawyer, policy analyst, social entrepreneur and farmer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and a Master of Laws Degree (LLM) from Makerere University, and a Juridical Science Master (JSM) Degree from Stanford Law School, Stanford University. He is the founding Executive Director of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (www.acode-u.org) where he retired at the end of 2013. He is co-author of Governing the Environment: Political Change and Natural Resources Management in Eastern and Southern Africa and Unlocking Africa’s Future: Biotechnology and Law (Forthcoming). Godber has undertaken numerous consulting and policy advisory services assignments on environment, land governance, and science and technology policy for the Government of Uganda and a number of multilateral development organizations.
Godwin Abunia Toko
Godwin Abunia Toko is a Research Fellow at the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies, focusing on the Democracy and Rule of Law program. He is a lawyer with a keen interest in politics, human rights and governance. He graduated from the Uganda Youth Network’s Leadership Academy with a certificate, and is currently undertaking a mentorship in Mental Health under the auspices of the Network of Public Interest Lawyers (NETPIL) and Free Mind Hive (FMH). He is an avid debater who represented Uganda as a youth delegate at the CommonWealth Ministers’ Conference held in Kampala in 2017. He has undertaken a number of consultancies on human rights, legal aid service provision and the law with organisations like the Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC). Godwin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Makerere University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, Kampala.
Henry Otafiire
Henry Otafiire is a Research Fellow at Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies. He is charged with updating policy insights within the Great Lakes Region on the organisation's website. Henry’s focus is on identifying, profiling and making sense of policy updates dominating the Great Lakes Region. Before joining GLISS, he worked with African Monitor under its flagship project Voice Africa’s future (VAF) which was an agenda 2030 youth initiative to ensure that SDGs implementation process is sustainable, specific, measurable and visible for the next 30 years and beyond. Henry holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Ethics and Human Rights from Makerere University, Uganda. He is currently enrolling for Masters in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from Makerere University, Uganda..
Jackie Batamuliza
Jackie Batamuliza is a Resident Research Associate at the Great Lakes institute for Strategic Studies (GLISS) and an aspiring social entrepreneur. She is currently interested in the field of Petroleum, Strategic Minerals, Democracy and Rule of Law with a number of Opinion publications in Newspapers. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Nkumba University.
Marshal Owach
Marshal Owach is a multifaceted digital content specialist energetically helping companies and organisations communicate both internally and externally. Having over 4 years of experience managing public information events and campaigns; specifically working with websites, social media mainly Facebook and Twitter. Established history of photography, graphic design, copywriting, and social media management. Dedicated to preserving the client’s reputations and enhancing all corporate communications efforts.
Monicah Amoding
Monicah Amoding joined GLISS in August 2021 as Senior Research Associate. She is part of GLISS team under the Democracy and Rule of Law Programme. Monicah’s research interests range from national, regional and continent-wide policy issues including women in politics, gender, representation and access to natural resources. She is also the host of Great Lakes Women at the Frontlines that airs on CivicSpaceTV. Monicah is an avowed advocate for women rights, social justice and accountability. She is passionate about eradication of gender inequities and social injustices in society and raising leadership that can deal with the millennial challenges affecting Uganda and Africa. Monicah Amoding is a lawyer, gender activist, policy analyst and social entrepreneur. She holds a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies, Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences and Bachelor’s Degree from Makerere University. Monicah also holds a post graduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre. She has had a long career as a legislator representing in the parliament of Uganda. She was a youth MP representative (2011-2016) and the Woman Member of Parliament (2016-2021) representing Kumi district. She is former Chair of Uganda Women Parliamentarians Association (UWOPA). Monicah seats on the boards of numerous organisations working on issues of governance, human rights, women and young people.
Mwambutsya Ndebesa
Mwambutsya Ndebesa is a Senior Research Associate. Senior Research Associate is an honorary appointment reserved for individuals who have demonstrated excellence in research, scholarship and public service. Ndebesa is a political historian with interest in politics of development. He has experience of more than thirty years teaching at University. Before retiring from lecturing at University, he taught History and Development Studies at both Makerere and Kyambogo Universities. Besides teaching, he is also a public intellectual with considerable public role and involvement experience in NGO governance and activism. He is currently the chairman of the Governing Board SEATINI (U) and Chair of Vision East Africa, Uganda chapter. He is a founding member and Secretary for Media Engagement at SoJNU Think Tank. He is a media public policy analyst and critique. Ndebesa holds a masters degree in history (political economy of development), Dar Es Salaam University, BA degree and a diploma in education from Makerere University. He is driven by the norms of equality and social justice in his public role.
Patricia Nakora
Patricia Nakora is the Accounts Assistant at the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies. Patricia provides accounts and financial management and administrative support which includes keeping track of the financial incomes and daily expenses, filling of the statutory obligations for the staff and the organisation. She also supports the Accounts Officer with monitoring and updating Quick Books and among other tasks as assigned from time to time. She has acquired financial and accounting skills over time like use of Quick Books and pivotal tables to analyse and present financial reports. She is a result oriented person, competent, self-reliant and an effective team player in organisational management. Patricia holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Kyambogo University (2018) in Accounting and Finance.
Roline Tusiime
Tusiime Roline is a Resident Research Associate at Great Lakes institute for Strategic Studies (GLiSS), working on the Inclusive growth and Development program. She has obtained immense knowledge in Policy analysis through Research and study of economic issues, data analysis using computer packages SPSS, EPIDATA, STATA and skills like report writing on the findings. Her research interests lie in analyzing the state of service delivery in Districts` local governments of Uganda. She is passionate about the sub sector of education where she has media publications. She also holds a certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from Philanthropy online University. She graduated with a B.A in Arts in Economics in 2018 from Makerere University, Kampala.
Steven Kasumba
Steven Kasumba is the Digital Operations Officer at Great Lakes Initiative for Strategic Studies. He is a Machine Learning and AI enthusiast with a keen interest in data analysis. Steve holds a Data Science Summer School Certificate from Data Science Africa, a winner of the Agricultural category of Awards the MTN App Challenge (2017) and also a finalist in the Orange Community Innovations Award (2014). He has been developing software solutions since 2014, i.e. websites, web applications and a few mobile applications. He has experience with a number of programming languages like Python, JavaScript and PHP. Steve holds a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering and is pursuing his master's degree in Computer Science both from Makerere University.
Tricia Gloria Nabaye
Tricia Gloria Nabaye is a resident research associate with the Great Lakes at the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies under the Cyber rights and Digital Rights Program. She is a human rights activist and women rights champion. Tricia has eight years in civil society advocacy and organising. Policy research writing and implementing civic engagement. Tricia is currently a Future Africa Fellow and an ITP Media Training Fellow. Tricia holds a B.A. in Development Studies from Makerere University. Tricia is also a Friedrich Ebert Stiftung alumna in leadership training. She is also an alumna in the Young African Leaders Initiative as well as an alumna of the Great Lakes Next Generational Leaders Fellowship. Gloria’s research focuses on cyber policy and digital rights, civic education and engagement and electoral democracy and the policies that shape citizen participation in Uganda. Gloria also has some opinion publications in newspapers and blog articles. Gloria also supports the democracy initiatives that are geared towards ensuring citizens’ participation in the electoral processes of Uganda.