USA Board Members

Founding Board Member

Eng. Anke Weisheit

Anke Weisheit is an Agricultural Engineer and holds a Master degree in Agricultural Science and Resource Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ARTS) with more than 20 years of experience in tropical agriculture, value chain development, and agri-business in Eastern and Southern Africa. She is the lead innovator and co-founder and currently, serving as the Chair of Innovation and Business Management of the Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre (PHARMBIOTRAC) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. Anke is co-founder and serving on the board of the Friends of PHARMBIOTRAC Foundation (FPF). She has vast experience in innovation incubation, business mentoring, product development and is conducting project and proposal evaluations, strategic planning, feasibility studies, and organization development. Anke is also an External Expert to the European Commission Horizon 2020, a Member of the Governing Council of the Sub-Saharan Open University (SSOU), and serving on the WHO Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicine for COVID-19 Response (REACT). Anke had previously lead teams for evaluations, need assessments and feasibility studies. Previously, she served on the Board of Trustees of THETA Uganda as the Chairperson of Programs and Research Committee, and the Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS) board as a founding team member. She has researched and consulted for the United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, World Health Organization, World Agroforestry Centre, and German Agency for International Cooperation among others.

Contact:
Telephone: +256-772-788096
Email: aweisheit@pharmbiotracfoundation.org
Skype: ankweis
LinkedIn

Board Member

Mr. Charles Ssekwe Lugemwa

Charles is a 2003 graduate of software engineering of the University of St. Thomas, St Paul Minnesota, USA. He recently took an early retirement from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) where he served as the Manager Business Intelligence and analytics. He is a social entrepreneur and received the 2016 humanitarian year award of the University of St Thomas, St Paul Minnesota USA and a 2023 social entrepreneurship award of the Friends of East Africa Foundation, St Paul Minnesota.

Currently, he is the Chairperson of the board and Country Directors of Hope Medical Clinics Uganda, a not-for-profit organization that owns and Operates Gary Holmes Hospital Maganjo and Gary Holmes Pharmacy Uganda Limited. He additionally serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Friends of East Africa Foundation based in St Paul Minnesota USA, he additional serves on the Board of St Savio Junior school, Kisubi. He has previously served as the Chaiman URA SACCO Limited, Vice Chairperson board of governors of St. Kizito Minor seminary, Nandere, Luwero Diocese;
His life and personality have been shaped by the challenges he has faced and has drawn life experiences to develop and enhance his social entrepreneurship goals of creating a better world for all. Charles derives his livelihood from the short-term consultancies he conducts with the International Monetary Fund, Washington DC, USA.

Online Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronda-marie-chakolis-pharmd-mph-2180675/