ACCESS TEAM (UGANDA)
Dr. Robert Kalyesubula, Founder and President
Dr. Robert is a native of Nakaseke, Uganda. He received his doctoral degree in Uganda and completed a nephrology fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine. During Uganda’s violent political instability, Dr. Robert lost his father when he was eight years old and dropped out of school. Fortunately, he rescued by an organization that supported his education. He finished his first degree in Medicine and Surgery in 1999 and immediately went to his home district in Nakaseke to work as a junior doctor in the Nakaseke District Hospital. Following his dedicated service he was employed as the medical director of AFXB, an international organization working in over 5 districts in Uganda caring for over 900 vulnerable children and people with HIV-AIDS (PLWAs). He used the skills and knowledge acquired in this position to mobilize the members in his Nakaseke District to start a community based organization to support orphans and PLWAs. He founded ACCESS in 2002 (then known as the Nakaseke Community Development Initiative) in the Nakaseke District of Uganda.
Dr. Kalyesubula was awarded a scholarship to study Management of HIV-AIDS as a trainer of trainers offered by Mildmay International Study Center and Manchester University (UK). He subsequently studied for a masters degree in internal medicine at Makerere University. He now serves as an honorary Lecturer at Makerere University School of Health Sciences and works extensively in the area of HIV-AIDS supporting curriculum development for the Infectious Disease Institute.
He has presented over 15 papers on both national and international forums urging his colleagues to embrace community based care as a means of bringing health care services nearer to the people. He is a board member to 4 national boards and 2 international boards working in medical education and HIV-AIDS. He has received several grants from, UPHOLD, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Action Medeor, Carpenters’ Union and Makerere University Yale University Collaboration as part of his effort to support ACCESS. Dr. Kalyesubula has recently been awarded the SAWA hero award by the Canadian based NGO forum in recognition of his outstanding work for the people of Nakaseke. ACCESS has also been voted the best performing CBO in Nakaseke two years in a row.
Ssewanyana James, CHO, Co-Founder and Deputy Executive Director
James, known in Nakaseke as musawo (doctor) lives and works with ACCESS in Nakaseke. James serves as the primary clinician at LifeCare Center, and oversees ACCESS programs in Nakaseke. James trained as a clinical officer at Nakaseke District Hospital where he met Dr. Robert. Together they founded NACODI, as ACCESS was formerly known. James is active in the Nakaseke community and has greatly contributed to ACCESS involvement with community initiatives.
Estherloy Katali,Managing Director (MD)
Estherloy earned her Masters Degree in Computer Technology at Makerere University. She has worked with the Yale University Medical Partnership at Mulago Hospital as Program Coordinator. Estherloy currently is the Managing Director at ACCESS.
Sserubombwe Peter, Principal of ACCESS school of Nursing and Midwifery
Peter became the Nursing and Midwifery principal for ACCESS in 2014.Peter obtained a nursing certificate in mental health. Peter then obtained a diploma in nursing from Makerere University. Peter was the principal at Soroti Nursing School for two years as well as the principal at Butabika Nursing school from 1978-2000. Peter was a deputy principal at Mbarara school of nursing. Peter was also given the chance to travel to London to study as a nurse. When Peter returned, he worked as a nurse and principal.Peter is a Catholic and uses his story to encourage other Catholics.While he was sharing his story, a diocesan bishop who identifies people, with the assistance of his priests,sent his name to the Papal Nuncio, who is the representative of the pope in the country. The Nuncio forwarded Peter’s name to Rome for the approval of the Pope. When the Pope was convinced by the reasons, he bestowed onto him the Knighthood title. To date, Peter is the only nurse that holds this title among the Catholic religion. Due to his life’s work and the attributes that he has obtained, Peter considers himself a very lucky man.
Kiyemba Ronald, Program Manager
Kiyemba Ronald earned his Bachelors Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Human Resources from Islamic University in Mbale, Uganda. Ronald completed his Masters Degree in Business Administration at Ndejje University in May 2014. Ronald joined ACCESS as Program Coordinator in 2009. Ronald serves as the nursing school administrator and is currently the Program Manager of ACCESS. Ronald lives and works at ACCESS. Ronald facilitates ACCESS community programs and helps contribute toward the development of the ACCESS compound. Ronald is very active in the Nakaseke community. In Ronald’s free time, he enjoys soccer and spending time with his family.
Faith Nassali,Coordinator and Administrative Assistant of ACCESS
Faith attended Kyambogo University, where she obtained a Bachelors in Economics and Statistics. Faith is currently working on completing a Masters in Public Health, at Makerere University. Faith facilitates a multitude of responsibilities ranging from preparing monetary obligations to coordinating daily activities in family planning and NCD programs. In Faith’s free time, she enjoys listening to music.