Diane Lockhart is the visionary founder of Amani Mamas Initiative, an organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable mothers and families through health, education, and community empowerment initiatives. Drawing on her deep commitment to social impact, she has guided the development of programs that provide maternal care, promote family well-being, and strengthen local communities. Under her leadership, Amani Mamas Initiative has grown into a trusted institution, combining compassionate care with practical support to improve the lives of mothers and children. Diane’s focus on advocacy, sustainability, and community engagement ensures that the organization remains responsive to the needs of those it serves, while inspiring others to contribute to meaningful change.

Joseph is a seasoned Project and Operations professional with over 10 years of experience managing complex projects across energy, health, education, and regulated services. Joseph has collaborated with international organizations including the World Bank, USAID, and the British Council, delivering projects aligned with governance, compliance, and performance requirements. He is skilled in project planning, risk and issue management, budgeting, procurement, stakeholder coordination, and performance reporting, and thrives in multi-stakeholder, international environments. Based in Uganda, Joseph brings accountability, structured delivery, and cross-cultural expertise to the Board.

Prof. Deirdre Carabine has devoted nearly three decades to advancing higher education across Sub-Saharan Africa. She co-founded the Virtual University of Uganda, the region’s first fully online, open-source university, and served there until her retirement. She has also held the position of Vice Chancellor at Uganda Martyrs University, demonstrating her leadership in academic governance. Returning to her scholarly roots, Prof. Carabine now focuses on medieval philosophy and theology, with a particular interest in apophatic theology, currently tracing its development from the School of St. Victor to Martin Luther. At Amani Mamas Initiative, she brings her wealth of experience in education, leadership, and research to her role as Secretary to the Board.

James O’Sullivan (Jim) is an Investigator at the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services. He brings extensive experience in war crimes, serious crimes, and internal oversight investigations, with strong skills in incident coordination and management, report writing, interviewing, and guest lecturing. Jim has a solid professional police background and holds a First Class Honors Master’s degree in Criminology, with a focus on Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Systems, from Technological University Dublin. His expertise and commitment to justice make him a valuable contributor to the Board’s work. Jim is also a member of the Entebbe Sailing Club and the Irish Society of Uganda.

Jovia Namara Tugume is a seasoned politician, currently an aspiring Member of Parliament for Entebbe Municipality, Uganda. She is a passionate advocate for underprivileged and marginalized communities, including women, fishermen, boatmen, market traders, youth, and small-scale entrepreneurs. Throughout her career, Jovia has championed social justice, community empowerment, and equitable access to opportunities, striving to ensure that every voice is heard and represented. Her deep commitment to community development and inclusive leadership makes her a valuable member of the Board.

Prof. Michele Lejeune is a distinguished academic leader for many decades. He served as Professor and Vice Chancellor of the Virtual University of Uganda, the first virtual university in sub-Saharan Africa providing working professionals with access to postgraduate degrees in Public Health, International Development, ICT for Development, and Executive MBA programs, including specialization in Oil and Gas. Prior to this, he served as Vice Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, the country’s first Catholic university, where he oversaw its growth from 82 students to over 5,000, embedding values of ethics, professionalism, and academic excellence across all programs. Prof. Lejeune was a Deputy Executive Director with the National Council for Higher Education, as well as the Head of Higher Education Quality Assurance in Uganda. He was the Founder and First Chairman of the Forum of Vice Chancellors, Uganda, fostering collaboration among higher education leaders and advising government on policy matters. Prof. Lejeune holds a PhD in Law from Université Catholique de Louvain and has contributed extensively to higher education across Africa, serving as Senior Education Consultant for VLIR, Belgium, and engaging in projects such as baseline studies for educational institutions under the Belgian Technical Cooperation. He is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences and the Institut d’Études Médiévales, Louvain-la-Neuve, and a former chairman of the Association of Catholic Universities and Institutes of Africa and Madagascar (ACUHIAM). His exceptional experience in academic leadership, quality assurance, and educational development makes her a vital asset to the Board of Amani Mamas Initiative.