Governing Council
PROF. G. W. OTIM-NAPE
PROF. G. W. OTIM-NAPE, AfrII CEO, ( EX-OFFICIO) GOVERNING COUNCIL
Professor George William Otim-Nape holds a PhD in plant virology from the University of Reading, UK, a postdoctoral course in plant virus epidemiology and control at Wye College, University of London, UK and a post-doctoral research training in molecular virology of cassava mosaic virus at Scottish Crops Research Institute (SCRI), UK. He also underwent training on Science, Technology and Innovation Policy at the JF Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.
Prof Otim-Nape started his career as a scientific officer (Plant Pathologist) in 1976; became Senior Research Officer, Principle Research Officer, Deputy Director General, Director General NARO in 1983, 1993, 1999 and 2003 respectively, most of this period (1976-1999), spent on innovations development and management. He has published widely on agricultural development in international scientific journals, book chapters and monographs. Professor Otim-Nape has worked as development planner (Country CAADP Processes Manager) for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), an AU/NEPAD Programme from 2006 to 2008. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Africa Innovations Institute, a Non-Governmental Centre of Excellence based in Kampala, Uganda. The Institute focuses on science, technology and innovations in Africa.
Professor Otim-Nape is one of East Africa’s leading agricultural research scientists. He has extensive experience in agricultural research for development, agricultural research management, and science and innovations policy. One of the major technological achievements of Professor Otim-Nape has been the control of cassava mosaic disease pandemic (CMD) which had threatened production in Uganda. A plant pathologist by training, Prof Otim-Nape has spent most of his career in agricultural research for development and has demonstrated strategic leadership and management of large agricultural research for development programmes.
His current research is on agricultural innovations policy, agricultural institutional development, commercialization of staple African commodities, enhancing community adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change, and on integrated management of crops and livestock pests and diseases.He was nominated in 1997 for the African Prize for Leadership for Sustainable End to Hunger, In 2006 he was nominated for the Yara Prize 2006. In 2003, he was awarded Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences, the highest and most prestigious national scientific honour.
He also received the Lottery International Award “for his great intellect, diligence and energy he dedicated as head of the distinguished cassava research team, to the problem of cassava mosaic disease that nearly brought the crop to extinction with predictability dire consequences to the populations’ food security in the region”.
Prof. Otim-Nape received a special recognition award from the Africa Crop Science Society and the Uganda National Farmers Federation for his exemplary leadership in fighting the cassava mosaic disease pandemic and contribution to food security in Uganda.
In 2008, he received the Presidential Award for Science Excellence from His Excellency The President of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
PROF. DAVID OKELLO OWINY
PROF. DAVID OKELLO OWINY, MEMBER, AfrII GOVERNING COUNCIL
David Okello Owiny is an Associate Professor of Animal Assisted Reproductive Technologies. David joined the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University in 1985 where he obtained a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree and later obtained an MSc from the same University. He holds a PhD in Animal Assisted Reproductive Technologies from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
David has worked at Makerere University from 1992 to 2019, where he rose through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer to Assoc. Professor. At Makerere, he was Head of Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Dean of the School of Biosecurity, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences; Deputy Director (Administration) in the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training.
Since November 2019 to date David is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) in Gulu University. His area of specialization is Animal Assisted Reproductive Technology (AART), particular spermatology, in vitro fertilization, gamete and embryo cryopreservation, embryo transfer, gamete and embryo micro-manipulation, conservation of biodiversity using AART, and general veterinary practice.David established an Animal Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, that he continued to run even when he was Deputy Director.
He holds certificates in research management and Blended Learning academic development. He has supervised many undergraduate, Masters and PhD students, published widely in refereed journals and attended many international and local conferences. Besides, he is/has been member/chair of many committees appointed by the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Board of Research and Graduate Training, and Gulu University.
He is also a leader in the communities he has lived in and has participated in several community service programmes.
DR. JUSTINE J. NAMAALWA
DR. JUSTINE J. NAMAALWA, MEMBER, AfrII GOVERNING COUNCIL
Dr. Justine J. Namaalwa holds a PhD in Forest Economics (Norwegian University of Life Sciences); MSc. in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture (Agricultural University of Norway); and a BSc. Forestry (Makerere University).
Justine works at the Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University. She undertakes assignments in Teaching and Supervision of graduate and undergraduate students, Research and Knowledge Transfer. She has supervised and mentored 18 Graduate and up to 48 Undergraduate Students. Justine has over the years participated in interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research where she participated in proposal development, field work activities, reporting and facilitating stakeholder platforms. She has published over 25 peer reviewed articles and book chapters. She has been trained through the Higher Education Resources Services (HERS) Leadership Academy, and, Financial Management for leaders, both trainings were organized and hosted by Makerere University.
Justine has overtime focused teaching and research assignments in the areas of natural resources economics and governance, forestry resource assessment, Ecosystem service markets and access to, use and management of land and allied resources. Further, she has in the past 12 years engaged with Carbon and REDD+-related and forest management research projects, Hence, greatly contributed to the National REDD+ processes and other process in the Environmental sector through the development of technical reports and working papers.Besides her academic roles, Justine undertakes different administrative roles at the University including Head, Department of Environmental Management; Co-ordinator, Mastercard Scholars Program at Makerere; Member of the Makerere University Press Editorial Board; Member of the Finance Committee for School of Forestry; and, Member of the Makerere University Strategic Planning Committee. Beyond the University, she serves in different capacities including but not limited; (i) Chairperson Board of Advisors- Environmental Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise Facility; (ii) Member of Parents Committee for Namilyango College; (iii) Academic representative to the National Technical working group on Natural Capital Accounting; (iv) Member of the Management Board for Royal Suites Ltd; and (iv) Member of the National REDD+ Technical Team
MR. GERALD ABILA
MR. GERALD ABILA, MEMBER, AfrII GOVERNING COUNCIL
Gerald Abila is still a natural person and founder of Barefoot Law. Through innovative use of digital technology, BarefootLaw’s work is to empower people to develop legal solutions for their justice needs.
Gerald is steadfast in the belief that access to the law for all is fundamental to a just, equitable, and thriving society and that new technologies have a significant role to play in ensuring equal access to justice for everyone.
He was named a Legal Rebel by the American Bar Association for his use in using technology to transform global legal practice. Other honors include the 100 leading Legal Consultants and Strategists in the world for 2018 by the Law Dragon in New York, Echoing Green fellow, Draper Richards Kaplan entrepreneur, and a Laurette of the Africa Development Prize by the King Baudouin Foundation. He was recently named a Rainer Arnhold Fellow by the Mulago Foundation.
In addition to BarefootLaw, Gerald likes to solve problems, teach the law, speak about the law and technology and how these can be used to meet the global goals more so SGD16.
DR. EDITH KATEME KASAJJA
DR. EDITH KATEME KASAJJA, MEMBER, AfrII GOVERNING COUNCIL
Dr. Edith Kateme-Kasajja is a development economist with over thirty years of working in different capacities in the development planning area of focus. She is a graduate of Social Sciences (Economics and Rural Economy) obtained from Makerere University with a Masters Degree in Agriculture Economics at Wye College, University of London, UK.
Edith has attended a number of short courses, seminars and workshops in development planning; monitoring and evaluation, project appraisal; finance management, gender and development; negotiations, environment and natural resources management.
She has worked in spheres of social development, administration and has vast experience in medium and long term strategic planning; risk management; budgeting; policy formulation; monitoring and evaluation; and finance negotiations under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCCC).
