ACME is governed by a fully-functional board of professionals listed below:
Prof. Emilly Comfort Maractho – Chairperson
Emilly Comfort Maractho, PhD, is an academic with 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and management. She is an Associate Professor of Media Studies at Uganda Christian University, where she teaches Journalism, Media, and Communication, and chairs the Media, Democracy, and Development Research Group. She has held leadership roles, including Head of Department of Journalism and Media Studies and Director of the African Policy Centre at UCU, and is currently an administrator at Emmaus Foundation Trust. Her research focuses on media development, gender, and democratic interactions. A two-time post-doctoral fellow at NLA University College, her doctoral research explored mass media’s interactions with women in public life in Uganda. Prof. Maractho has received notable accolades, including the Next Generation Social Science Research Council Dissertation Award (2015/2016) and a Carnegie Corporation of New York Scholarship in 2018. She holds degrees from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, Daystar University, Uganda Martyrs University, and Makerere University. Maractho serves on several boards and professional associations, advocating for policy-engaged research and the use of evidence in policymaking.
Robby Muhumuza – Deputy Chairperson
Mr Robby Muhumuza is a management and communications consultant based in Kampala, Uganda. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Literature in English from Makerere University (1982); Master of Science in Journalism from Ohio University in USA (1987); and a Master of Leadership and Organizational Management from Uganda Christian University (2007). He has worked as a communications director with World Vision Uganda (1987-1999), National Director with World Vision Uganda (1999-2006) and Regional Director for World Vision Eastern Africa (2006-2009). He has taught Strategic Communication on the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication degree course at Uganda Christian University (2019-2021). He has also worked as a communications agent consultant with UNICEF, UNODC, ActionAid, Lutheran World Federation, and World Vision, among other organizations. He currently serves on the governing boards of Africa Centre for Media Excellence, Amref Health Africa-Uganda, and Nation Media Group-Uganda.
Paul Busharizi – Treasurer
Paul Busharizi is a seasoned Ugandan journalist and corporate communications consultant with over three decades of experience. He began his career as a Business Reporter at New Vision from 1995 to 1998, later working as a Reuters Correspondent in Uganda from 1998 to 2004, covering the country’s economic recovery and privatization. Mr Busharizi returned to New Vision in 2004, eventually becoming Public Editor, where he upheld journalistic standards and organized key events. He also worked as a Media Training Consultant for the Commonwealth Secretariat between 2008 and 2011, training journalists across Africa. Since 2011, he has provided corporate communications training and consultancy, including with ACME. In 2021, he published “The House That Museveni Built,” a collection of his columns exploring Uganda’s political landscape.
Dr Arthur Bainomugisha – Member
Arthur Bainomugisha, PhD, is the Executive Director of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), one of the leading public policy research think tanks in Eastern and Southern Africa. He has been a Technical Advisor for Uganda Peace Support Team on South Sudan and was involved in brokering a peace agreement between SPLA (IO) and the Government of Uganda when fighting broke out in December 2013 in South Sudan. He has been a lecturer of Peace and Conflict studies at Makerere University, in the Faculty of Religion and Peace Studies for 15 years and is currently a senior teaching fellow in the department of Public Administration and Governance at Uganda Christian University Mukono. He also worked as a Civil Society Fellow at the International Peace Institute (IPI), a New York based public policy think tank. He has authored several research publications, book chapters and articles on Peace and Security, Natural Resources and Local Governance. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies; a Master’s Degree in Peace Studies from University of Bradford (UK). A Diploma in National Security from Galilee Institute, Israel.
Diana Angwech – Member
Ms Angwech is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a Commissioner for Oaths, and a Notary Public. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre. With 14 years of experience in law firms, civil society, and international NGOs, Diana now runs her own legal consultancy. She is an expert in organisational management and good governance, having worked in media law and regulation in Uganda. Ms Angwech is a member of the Uganda Law Society, East African Law Society, and Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity. She has held leadership roles, including Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, and serves as Board Chairperson of Abide Family Centre, Board Member of Tutapona International and Mandela National Stadium, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Kampala. She is also the founder and chairperson of the Alabaster Ladies Ministry.
Ritah Nantamu-Oyoga – Member
Ritah Nantamu-Oyoga is an accomplished professional with over 8 years of senior leadership experience in commercial microfinance banking, internal auditing, financial management, general business administration and NGO board governance. She has a wealth of practical expertise in internal auditing, internal audit quality assessment (Auditor of Auditors), credit management, microfinance, banking, and operations. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda as well as the Global Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). She holds an MBA in Finance from Amity University, India, and a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics from Makerere University.
Richard M. Kavuma – Member
Richard Mulindwa Kavuma is a public communication practitioner and a retired journalist, editor and author. His last newsroom assignment was Editor of The Observer newspaper, from 2012 to 2017. In 2006, Kavuma won the United Nations Foundation award for development and humanitarian coverage, and in 2007, he received the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the Year award. He went on to work part-time for the UK’s Guardian newspaper and BBC Media Action. He had started his journalism as a freelance reporter for Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper and later Radio One. Mr Kavuma is passionate about mentorship of upcoming reporters. He has authored two handbooks for young writers: Writing People, Raising Issues (2012) and Write Right, Tight (2017), both of which were published by ACME and distributed free of charge. He holds a master’s degree in media and communications from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Makerere University.
Barbara Among – Member
Barbara Among is an experienced journalist and communication professional with 18 years of expertise in media, development communication, corporate communication, and public relations. She has worked as a reporter and editor for major national and international outlets, covering topics such as conflict, human rights, politics, health, and the environment, with notable publications including The Guardian, Reuters, and The Daily Nation. Barbara co-developed the Diploma in Land and Journalism curriculum at the Training Centre for Development Cooperation and contributed to a conflict-sensitive reporting toolkit at Rhodes University. She has received the David Astor Journalism Award and the Uganda Investigative Journalism Award. Previously Vice Chairperson of the Forum for Africa Investigative Reports, she holds degrees in Mass Communication from Makerere University and Digital Journalism from Aga Khan University.
Dr Wairagala Wakabi – Member
Wairagala Wakabi, PhD, is the Executive Director of Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). In his position at CIPESA, Dr Wakabi leads the policy research portfolio that supports cohesive approaches to advocating for online rights and use of ICT in democratic processes.
He holds a Master of Sciences in Informatics from Orebro University in Sweden, a Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University, and a PhD in informatics from Orebro University.
