Our Team Meet
Board of Directors
Denis Kibira
Board Chair, HAC Uganda
Has experience in Program management, coordination of multi-stakeholder groups on access to medicines, innovative research, health policy analysis, intellectual property and advocacy in Uganda and the East African region. Extensive experience in the Uganda health system, regional and global health and trade environment; knowledge of public health systems, health and pharmaceutical policy and management.
Dr. Farzana Sunderji
Board Member, HAC Uganda
Benson Chirwa
Board Members, HAC Uganda
Dr Benson Chirwa has been working in global health and HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. He is currently Deputy Chief of Party/DSD at Equip Zambia. Formerly he was Country Director of KethImpilo‘s USAID-funded External Quality Improvement Programme (EQUIP) in Zimbabwe. Previously he has served as the Director General of the National AIDS Council of Zambia and as the Technical Adviser for John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health SSDI Programme in Malawi. He has undertaken consultancies with UNAIDS and UKAID and has served on the Board of ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action Challenges Fund from 2012-2016. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.Ch.B.) from the University of Zambia and an MPH from the University of Ibadan. On the Board, Ben focuses on fundraising, grant writing, communication, and public relations for Health Access Connect.
Ruth Achillah
Board Member, HAC Uganda.
Ruth Achillah is an organizational effectiveness, people and culture leader with 15 years of cross-sector leadership experience across East Africa and globally. She specializes in the moment when organizations outgrow their implicit operating logic — designing the frameworks, talent systems, and leadership conditions that make institutional culture explicit, functional, and sustainable at scale.
Ruth currently serves as Global Learning & Development Lead at One Acre Fund, where she leads people development strategy for 10,000 staff across ten countries. Previously, as Uganda Country Manager and Director of Fellowships at Global Health Corps, she led a multi-country fellowship program spanning Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, and the United States. She is also a co-founder of NovaSage Africa, a pan-African leadership and innovation platform for women across career stages, sectors, and countries.
She pursued a Global MBA from Bologna Business School and an LLB from Uganda Christian University.
On the board, Ruth focuses on fundraising and governance for Health Access Connect.
Ronald Tibiita
Board Member, HAC Uganda
Ronald Tibiita has been a implementer and researcher of multiple global health programs. He is currently the Senior Programs Manager at Global Health Uganda and formerly served as Technical and Quality Improvement Officer of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health & HIV Interventions at the USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project in Northern Uganda. He has served as a member of Health Information for All 2030, as a Global Health Corps (GHC) Fellow, as a mentor with the GHC Alumni Association, and as a member of the Norwegian International Health Policy Scholars. He has a Bachelors of Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University, an MPH from the James P Grant School of Public Health of BRAC University, and a Masters in International Health Policy and Social Welfare from Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. On the Board, Ronald focuses on monitoring & evaluation and programmatic and implementation techniques for Health Access Connect.
Risha Hess
Risha Hess
Board Member, HAC Uganda
into implementation. In addition to her work for Propelevate she sits on several non-profit and government boards, facilitating strategic plans, building governance mechanisms and ensuring financial and risk oversight.
Before joining Propelevate, Risha was the Country Director for MSI Reproductive Choices in Ethiopia, where she led a team of over 700 to deliver maternal and SRHR services through for-profit maternity hospitals and ‘SRH’ clinics, mobile units, private sector franchises, and public sector
support, advocacy, and product sales.
Prior to MSI she worked 13 years for PSI in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. For five years she was PSI’s go-to person globally to facilitate marketing planning sessions and build training-of-trainers programs. She started her career working in social advertising at Better World Advertising. Risha holds an MBA from Georgetown University.
Dr. Stephen Assimwe
Board Member, HAC Uganda
Dr Stephen Asiimwe (MBChB, MS, DrPH) is a physician scientist and senior medical epidemiologist. Dr Asiimwe studied Medicine & Surgery from Makerere University Kampala Uganda (MUK), and at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio USA. He completed his second doctorate from the University of Georgia (UGA), USA, College of Public Health. He has 20 years’ experience in developing health systems, conducting medical research and public health application, accrued from serving in Uganda’s local health systems, and various positions held in the Uganda ministry of health, local government, civil society and university respectively, some at executive level. He is currently the Director of the Global Health Collaborative (GHC), a large global-health partnership between the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Uganda; with Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, USA. He is also co-founder, Principal Investigator and Principal Research Scientist for the Kabwohe Clinical Research Center (KCRC), in Sheema Uganda. Dr. Stephen is also an Honorary Lecturer and External Examiner of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the MUST Department of Community Health. Stephen is also a renown nature enthusiast, traveler, biker and family man. On the board, Stephen will assist advise the learning and knowledge generation from HAC initiatives, as well as with grant writing (fundraising).
Tonny Chono Okot
Board Member, HAC Uganda
Okot Chono Tonny is a highly accomplished professional with over 16 years of extensive experience working with national and international organizations in the areas of compliance, audit, risk management, accounting, finance, and investigation. He currently serves as an Internal Auditor at the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda, where he has made significant contributions in preparing and presenting risk reports, evaluating internal control processes, performing operational, financial, and compliance audits, and developing risk mitigation strategies. His work has promoted and implemented robust compliance and risk management frameworks across several organizations, including the Finance Trust Bank, Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda. He also guides the Head Internal Audit on internal controls and risk management and coordinates with external audits.
Tonny’s career is marked by a series of impactful roles, such as Senior Audit and Compliance Officer, Internal Auditor, Senior Audit and Inspectorate Officer, Finance Officer, Branch Accountant, and Compliance and Investigation Officer. His experience spans reputable institutions such as the United Nations, Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda, TDR Associate Consult Ltd, Fred Andema and Associates, and Finance Trust Bank. His diverse roles have honed his skills in developing risk management, compliance management ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and leading audit engagements to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Okot Chono holds an MBA in Finance & Accounting, a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Makerere University. He is a Chartered Risk Analyst (CRA) and a Fellow of the Global Academy of Finance and Management (USA). Additionally, he has earned a Diploma in Data Analytics, a Diploma in Actuarial Science, a Certificate in Modern Global Diplomacy from the University of London, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Insurance. He also holds a Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management. These qualifications underscore his profound expertise and commitment to continuous professional development.
Beyond his professional roles, Okot Chono is a results-oriented consultant with experience in risk management, compliance, and USAID compliance and donor regulations. He has provided consultancy services to local and international organizations such as Frontline AIDS/Uganda Key Population Consortium, Fulcrum Consult, BLD Consult Uganda Ltd, and Horizont 3000. His consultancy work has further solidified his reputation as a strategic thinker and a proficient problem-solver, capable of delivering tailored solutions that drive organizational success.
Email address: chonot2001@yahoo.com
Hudson Balidawa
Board Member, HAC Uganda
Dr. Hudson Balidawa is a Public Health Specialist and Development Advisory and Management consultant with 20 years of experience as a team leader, program management and technical advisor; working with national governments, senior leaders of bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, international financing institutions to design, implement, monitor and evaluate public health interventions across several countries in Africa. He has specific country professional experience and a deep contextual understanding of the Public Health terrain in Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Namibia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. From 2004 to 2011, he was a senior manager in Uganda, supported by the WHO Kampala office, to lead the rollout of HIV program capacity, where he co-led the public health consulting and advisory practice that led Uganda to achieve the 3by5 global HIV targets. He has worked with international firms like KPMG-Kenya where he has further harnessed his expertise in the end-to-end management of consulting assignments, from proposal writing to presenting final results to clients. He has extensive familiarity working with and leading engagements for WHO, UNAIDS, USAID; UNICEF; and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. He has collaborated in several research to generate evidence for decision-making. He holds two Master’s Degrees in Public Health and Pediatrics and Child Health, from Makerere University, Kampala; Post Graduate Diplomas in Monitoring and evaluation from Uganda Management Institute, Kampala; and International Health from Berlin, Germany; and a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/balidawa-hudson-06278a138/
Email address: hbalidawa@gmail.com
To inspire the Board to grow the organization beyond its current goals and contribute to shaping its bright future
Bruce Willis
Board Chairperson, HAC USA
Bruce Willis practices law at Musgrove Law Firm P.C. in Dallas, Texas. He serves as legal counsel to small-to-middle market companies and entrepreneurs and has a passion for helping to propel organizations to achieve their goals. Previously he partnered his own law firm and served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of an aviation company. He has a BS in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University and a JD from the University of Tulsa College of Law. On the Board, Bruce focuses on finance, budgeting, and legal processes for Health Access Connect.
Marjorie Norman
Board Member, HAC USA
Marjorie Norman comes to HAC with over 30 years of experience in business and competitive intelligence, strategic development, competitive benchmarking and market research in corporate, consulting, entrepreneurial and Non-Governmental Organization environments. Her focus has been in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Ms. Norman retired from Pfizer, Inc as Director, Worldwide Competitive Intelligence where she led the corporation’s global primary intelligence program. Prior to joining Pfizer, she was Director – Pharmaceutical Practice at Fuld + Company, a competitive intelligence consulting firm and a Senior Market Research Analyst at Johnson & Johnson Professional. Ms. Norman currently serves as Strategic Advisor to Cambridge Healthcare Research, an Executive Mentor for The Global Good Fund and an active member of Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps in response to the COVID crisis. She was previously awarded a Pfizer Global Health Fellowship, partnering with Population Services International on the ACTwatch Project based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ms. Norman holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Management at Simmons College and a BA in German and art history from Franklin & Marshall College.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjoriegnorman/
Amelia Nicholson
Board Member, HAC USA
Amelia Nicholson trained and worked at St Thomas’ Hospital in the UK as a staff nurse, graduating as a Nightingale nurse. A mother of three children, she has been involved in volunteer positions at her children’s schools and church, is in the choir, ran the local swim team for 3 years, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels for 10 years. During on various trips to Uganda, she realized the need for help and supported Child’s i Foundation in the promotion of foster care, and strongly believes in the need for safe medical care access for all people in Uganda which led to the interest in Health Access Connect. In her contributions on the Board, Amelia helps with fundraising and communications strategy and public health programs. Amelia and her family have lived in Washington, DC, having moved to USA from UK in 1986.
Pete Sullivan
Board Member, HAC USA
Financial Advisor, Managing Director with The Hatton Sullivan Group, A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Pete has 26 years experience working as a senior vice president financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. He is a graduate from University of Florida.
Staff
Kevin Gibbons
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Kevin Gibbons serves people by combining his experience in community organizing, project development, digital media, social research, and organizational leadership. He co-founded HAC after spending many months researching livelihoods and food security in Lake Victoria fishing communities. He previously worked as a Digital Media Consultant at University of Wisconsin-Madison and as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. He has a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University and an MS in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from University of Wisconsin-Madison. As Executive Director, Kevin is in charge of program development, administration, monitoring & evaluation, fundraising, and communications.
Patricia Akullo
Patricia Akullo
Operations Director
Patricia Akullo serves people by combining her experience in operations management, strategic planning, financial oversight, team leadership, and organizational development. She brings more than a decade of experience in the NGO and global health sector, driven by a deep commitment to remote communities and the belief that distance should never determine access to care. She previously served as Programs and Operations Coordinator at Global Health Corps and as Country Program Manager at Try Medics in Uganda. She holds a BA in Child Development and Children’s Ministry from Uganda Christian University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute, and is completing an MA in Organizational Leadership at Southeastern University. As Operations Director, Patricia oversees Health Access Connect’s Programs, Finance & Administration, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) functions, along with strategic planning, financial oversight, and organizational development.
Costaritah Nalukwago
Program Manager
Costaritah Nalukwago is Public Health practitioner who currently works as the Program Manager for Health Access Connect (HAC). Her core roles are to support the expansion of HAC activities to new areas that qualify for the organization’s interventions, closely work with the community structures to support the implementation of HAC models and approaches, oversee the program activities of the organization, and also coordinate the work of the Field Coordinator and Field Officers who are spread out in all HAC districts of operation.
Costaritah’s background in Clinical work, Social Work and Administration and her current Post graduate training in Public Health has given her a unique dimension of approaching public health issues with empathy and accommodativeness that is backed by researched academic knowledge.
She brings to HAC over 10 years’ experience in Clinical and Public Health work. Ritah has previously worked with the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) as Clinician directly supporting the HIV Care and Treatment Program at RHSP and building the capacity for the Government Health Care structures to take over the HIV Prevention and Care Programs. Ms. Nalukwago has also worked for the Local Government Health structure in the capacity of a Public health nurse. She also has locum experience with Baylor Uganda to support the scaling up of Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (EMTCT) through government health center systems in Soroti region.
Costaritah has both passion and special abilities in strategic planning of public health programs and as well as working with both the government structures and private sector to promote healthcare initiatives.
Anthony Tisasirana
Finance and Administration Manager
Anthony Tisasirana, a Finance and Administration Manager based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in financial management and administrative roles. Skilled in transaction monitoring, reporting, and payroll support, Anthony has demonstrated proficiency in QuickBooks and possesses strong strategic planning abilities. His work history includes managing expense tracking, payroll, and personnel vouchers for Health Access Connect, where he also conducted financial due diligence on potential investments and acquisitions. Additionally, he has held positions as a Finance and Admin Officer and Administrative Officer, contributing to budget preparation, agenda setting, and stakeholder communication. Anthony’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Kyambogo University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from Uganda Management Institute. Outside of work, he enjoys sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball, and indulges in activities like taking long walks and hitting the gym. His language proficiency extends to English, Luganda, and Runyakitara, adding to his versatility and effectiveness in diverse settings.
Frances Itiang
Communication & Development Officer
Frances is a goal-oriented Communications professional with over two years of experience, with a demonstrated track record of spearheading innovative communication strategies, creating engaging social media content, and leading successful fundraising campaigns. As the Communications & Development Officer at Health Access Connect, she works closely with HAC staff and partners to develop and implement effective communication strategies that support the organization’s objectives. Her responsibilities include assisting with report writing, compiling monthly newsletters and the annual report, maintaining active social media sites, and ensuring adherence to organizational branding. Additionally, she leads the creation of communication outputs such as blogs, and visuals, and supports fundraising efforts through grant writing and donation drives.
Frances previously worked as a Communications & Marketing Officer at Eastern Agricultural Development Company Limited and was involved in spearheading internal and external communications, developing marketing strategies, managing social media accounts, and conducting market research. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication with Communications as a major from Makerere University.
Ann Kugonza
Field Coordinator, Medicycles Project
Kugonza Ann is a dedicated and experienced healthcare professional currently serving as the Field Coordinator for the Masaka Cluster. With 12 years of experience in community health-related programs, Ann excels in setting up monitoring procedures for fieldwork and activities, reviewing and analyzing field reports, and compiling findings into comprehensive reports for the Programme Director and Executive Director. Her role involves implementing expansion plans, maintaining outreach schedules, tracking the progress of Field Officers in target communities, and addressing challenges faced by health facilities and communities. Ann’s commitment to improving community health is reflected in her meticulous approach to ensuring effective field operations and fostering sustainable healthcare initiatives.
Ann’s previous work experience includes roles such as Field Officer at Health Access Connect, where she introduced the Medicycle program to stakeholders, expanded the program to two new districts, and established 44 sustainable outreach sites. At THETA, she served as District Coordinator for a USAID-supported PMTCT program, focusing on community empowerment, health education, and health advocacy. As an Enrolled Midwife at Kitovu Hospital, Ann supported women during labor and childbirth, provided antenatal and postnatal care, and contributed to health education and accurate patient documentation. Her educational background includes a Diploma in Midwifery from Nsambya Training School and a Certificate in Midwifery from Ibanda School of Midwifery and Comprehensive Nursing. Outside of work, Ann enjoys praying, spending quality time with her family, and taking adventures. Her diverse experience and unwavering dedication make her a vital asset to the healthcare community.
Shifa Najjemba
Field Coordinator, Medicycles Project
Najjemba Shifa is a field coordinator, Central and Eastern region at Health Access Connect. Shifa supports field operations, stakeholder engagements and program monitoring to ensure effective delivery of community health interventions. She works closely with district leadership, health facilities and community structures to strengthen referral systems, improve data-driven decision making and ensure that underserved communities can access quality care.
She is a public health practitioner and medical clinical officer with extensive experience in community health program implementation.
She has spent over seven years working at the intersection of clinical care and community-based health systems, coordinating and supervising community health workers to expand access to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services. She has extensive experience coordinating and mentoring the community health workers, leading community outreach initiatives and supporting the integrated programs that improve service delivery at the last mile.
With a background in both clinical medicine and public health, Shifa brings a unique perspective that bridges facility-based care and community health programming. She holds a Bachelor of Public Health from Uganda Martyrs University (2016 – 2018) and a diploma in clinical medicine and community health from Fort Portal College of Health Sciences ( 2014-2026).
Shifa is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health with a speciality in Population and Reproductive Health.
She is deeply committed to advancing equitable access to quality health services for underserved communities and empowering communities to take an active role in improving their health and well-being.
Joyce Namasinga
Field Coordinator & Trainer, Treat & Teach
Ivan Walukhu
Family Planning Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer
Ivan Walukhu has a BS in nursing. He brings a wealth of experience in health promotion and capacity building of community health workers
Ivan is passionate about health promotion and brings experience in capacity building of community health workers. He holds a bachelor of science in Nursing and comes to HAC having worked as a health trainer with BRAC.
As Field Coordinator, Ivan will lead the training of at least 50 community health workers, which are called village health team members (VHTs) in Uganda. The training will focus on delivering health promotion messaging about family planning, HIV and other STI prevention to at least 10,000 beneficiaries in Masaka and Kalangala districts. The goal is to increase demand for services and ensure everyone has access to preventive healthcare.
Ivan has been promoted to the position of M & E Family Planning Project
Dorah Ampurire
Field Officer, Family Planning
Dorah Ampurire is the Family Planning Field Officer for Kalangala District at Health Access Connect (HAC). With 4 years of experience, Dorah works closely with government health facilities to conduct family planning (FP) outreaches and leads efforts in identifying demand generation for FP services. She collaborates with health facilities to minimize the discontinuity of FP among childbearing-aged girls and women and supports the Monitoring & Evaluation team in data collection.
Previously, Dorah served as a Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Provider. She holds a nursing qualification and has expertise in behavioral change communication and public health promotion.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Dorah enjoys reading and traveling.
Dorah’s dedication to improving reproductive health and her expertise in public health make her a valuable member of the HAC team.
Jim Muhangi
Field Officer, Medicycles
Paul Gubi
Field Officer, Medicycles
Gubi Paul serves as a Field Officer at Health Access Connect (HAC), bringing a wealth of expertise in community-based rehabilitation. His primary roles include coordinating government health workers to extend services in remote rural communities, preparing and mobilizing communities for outreach work, and facilitating stakeholder meetings at various administrative levels. Gubi actively engages in weekly reporting and supports the Monitoring & Evaluation team in data collection.
Gubi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Based Rehabilitation from Kyambogo University, which has equipped him with skills in community mobilization, data collection, and analysis, as well as community engagement and assessment.
Outside of work, Gubi enjoys attending prayers and worshipping, watching soccer, listening to country music and oldies, and traveling. His commitment to community empowerment and his diverse skill set make him a valuable asset to the HAC team.
Pascal Ssekalala
Field Officer, Medicycles
Ssekalala Pascal is a Field Officer at Health Access Connect (HAC). His key responsibilities include mobilizing communities in remote villages to form groups and register as Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), thereby enabling them to access health services locally. He is also tasked with expanding and maintaining outreach clinics across all HAC sites, ensuring VIP contacts are maintained, and overseeing the timely and accurate submission of reports and clinic forms to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team.
With six years of experience at HAC, starting from May 1, 2018, Pascal has garnered extensive experience working with diverse communities, stakeholders at various administrative levels, and international entities. He has gained valuable insights into managing interactions with people of different backgrounds. His tenure at HAC has also enabled him to advance academically; he has completed a Diploma in Public Administration and Management from Kampala University, pending graduation. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Arts with Education from Makerere University, a Diploma in Records Management from Uganda Management Institute, and certifications as a Trainer of Trainers in First Aid. Pascal is also involved in the Red Cross Action Team and has expertise in refereeing. Outside of work, he enjoys engaging in agriculture and business activities.