Board of Directors (BOD)
The leadership of EAHERI is headed by the Board of Directors (BOD) composed of Ugandan research scientists and founders of the institution. The BOD is steered by the Executive Director who is as well as the Chairperson of the BOD, and works hand in hand with the Senior Management Team.
Dr. Racheal Samantha Nanzira
MBChB- OB/GYN, MPH
Executive Director
Executive Director
Dr. Racheal Samantha Nanzira is a Ugandan physician who earned her MBChB and specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, followed by a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Makerere University. Her career spans clinical medicine, medical education, and health-systems leadership. She currently serves as Executive Director of EAHERI and a board member.
She is also a senior OB/GYN at Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, a specialized national referral facility for obstetrics, pediatrics, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS care, and maternal-child health research, where she leads the Department of OB/GYN.
Dr. Nanzira holds several other positions, including Coordinator for the Kampala Metropolitan area within Uganda's Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), under the Ministry of Health, where she has championed the use of routine health data to strengthen clinical and management decision-making across maternal and newborn care services, in partnership with the Population Council and the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).
In academia, Dr. Nanzira serves as Associate Dean of the School of Medicine at Uganda Christian University (UCU), where she has trained several physicians across the country and continues to lead the Department of OB/GYN.
Kato Gerald
BBLT, MPH
Board Chair
Board Chair
Gerald Kato is the Board Chair of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI) and a Laboratory Systems Strengthening Specialist with over nine years of experience in public health laboratory management, quality assurance, and health systems strengthening in Uganda. He holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Technology from Makerere University, combining advanced technical expertise with a strong public health perspective to strengthen diagnostic systems and improve healthcare quality.
Gerald currently serves as Laboratory Coordinator for the Kampala HIV Project at Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, where he oversees laboratory services across 31 health facilities in Kampala. He has extensive expertise in developing and implementing Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS) aligned with ISO 15189:2022 standards and has successfully supported five laboratories, including Butabika National Referral Hospital, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, and Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, to achieve South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accreditation. His work also encompasses biosafety and biosecurity, including policy development, laboratory audits, risk management, and the procurement of critical equipment to strengthen laboratory safety and regulatory compliance.
In addition, Gerald serves as a Laboratory Technician in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at Uganda Christian University, where he supports the training of medical students through practical instruction in histopathology, clinical laboratory techniques, and laboratory quality management. He prepares laboratory materials, maintains laboratory equipment, and mentors students in standard operating procedures and quality assurance, helping bridge classroom learning with professional laboratory practice.
Previously, Gerald spent more than six years as a Laboratory Services Specialist at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), providing technical leadership across Kampala and the West Nile region. During this period, he strengthened laboratory systems by expanding the utilization of diagnostic technologies, including GeneXpert and BD FACS platforms, improving external quality assessment performance, strengthening integrated sample referral and transportation systems, and supporting laboratory infrastructure development across multiple health facilities.
A certified trainer and mentor in Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), biosafety, continuous quality improvement (CQI), and laboratory diagnostics, Gerald has trained numerous laboratory professionals and healthcare workers in HIV and tuberculosis diagnostics, laboratory auditing, quality assurance, and quality improvement methodologies. As Board Chair of EAHERI, he provides strategic governance and leadership, supporting the organization's mission to strengthen health systems, advance high-quality research, and promote equitable access to evidence-based healthcare across East Africa. His professional commitment is driven by a passion for building resilient laboratory systems and developing the next generation of laboratory and public health professionals to improve patient care and population health outcomes.
Specioza Mwima
B.Econ
Board Secretary
Board Secretary
Specioza Mwima serves as the Board Secretary of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI), where she plays a pivotal role in supporting the organization's governance framework. She coordinates board communications, prepares and maintains accurate records of board meetings, and ensures that board resolutions are effectively documented, communicated, and implemented. Through her commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, and organizational excellence, she contributes to strengthening transparency, accountability, and effective corporate governance across the institution.
Specioza is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Administration at Victoria University, building on a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Her academic background provides a solid foundation in financial management, organizational administration, and strategic decision-making.
She brings nearly a decade of experience in the health research sector, having served for five years with the Africa Medical and Behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO) and three years with the Medical Research Council (MRC). During this time, she worked in qualitative research data management, overseeing the review, editing, and timely submission of research transcripts while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance with established protocols. This experience has equipped her with exceptional attention to detail, organizational discipline, and a strong appreciation for structured governance processes.
Specioza is certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Human Subject Protection, and Phlebotomy, reflecting her commitment to ethical standards, quality assurance, and continuous professional development. She is recognized for her excellent communication and interpersonal skills, collaborative leadership style, and experience in community mobilization. These qualities enable her to effectively support EAHERI's Board in promoting sound governance, informed decision-making, and institutional accountability.
Daama Alex
BDRH, MPH, PhD Candidate
Board Member & Co-founder
Board Member & Co-founder
Alex Daama is an accomplished epidemiologist, public health specialist, and demographer with over a decade of experience in cohort research, population health measurement, and public health program implementation across Uganda and East Africa. He is Co-Founder and Board Member of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI), where he contributes to shaping the organization's research strategy and champions equity-driven, community-based approaches to strengthening health systems across the region.
Alex is currently a PhD student in Public Health (Epidemiology track) in the Joint Doctoral Program between San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego (2025–2030), mentored by Dr. Amanda P. Miller. Alongside his doctoral work, he holds concurrent appointments as a Graduate Research Fellow in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at SDSU, a Graduate Student Assistant with the SDSU Research Foundation, and a Research Associate with the Africa Medical and Behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO) in Uganda. He earned a first-class MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Makerere University (2018–2022), where his capstone examined tobacco use among youth in Wakiso District, and holds a bachelor's degree in Demography and Reproductive Health from Kyambogo University (2012–2015) — the foundation of his demographic expertise in population health measurement and reproductive health research.
Before his doctoral studies, Alex held a series of increasingly senior roles at AMBSO — including Program Director, Head of Epidemiology and Behavioral Studies, and Senior Management Team Member — leading cohort design and scientific strategy. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly a decade with the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), progressing from intern and research assistant through HIV Cluster Administrator to Quality Control & Compliance Officer, contributing extensively to Uganda's population-based HIV research cohorts.
His research draws on both epidemiological and demographic methods to examine HIV incidence, intimate partner violence, food and water insecurity, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, COVID-19, implementation science, and social and structural determinants of health. He has co-authored 20 peer-reviewed publications, with two additional manuscripts currently under review, including Prevalence and factors associated with Advanced Disease among People Living with HIV in Masaka Region, Uganda and a longitudinal study on intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and HIV incidence among women in Wakiso and Hoima, Uganda, which he presented at SDSU's S3 Symposium, the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) 2026 (Phoenix, Arizona, USA) and at AIDS 2026 (IAS) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2026 (oral). His work has also been featured at IAS 2024 (Munich), CROI 2024 (Denver), and the INTEREST conference (2022).
Alex's research has been supported by fellowships including the Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship and University Graduate Fellowship at SDSU, a Fogarty international training grant through Johns Hopkins University and RHSP, an Episummer Scholarship from Columbia University, and conference scholarships from CROI 2024 and the 25th International AIDS Conference (2024). He currently serves as Data Analyst/Program Director on Merck-funded work on maternal vaccine confidence and as Research Associate/Coordinator on an NIH-funded study of prostate cancer among men of African ancestry, having previously led grant-funded research on tobacco control and mental health/alcohol-use interventions for adolescent girls and young women.
Beyond his own research, Alex actively mentors early-career scientists in Uganda and recently served as a poster judge at the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) conference 2026. He is a member of both SER and the BRIDGE Research Group.
Asani Kasango
BSWSA, MPH, PhD Candidate
Board Member & Co-founder
Board Member & Co-founder
Kasango Asani is an epidemiologist, public health researcher, and data scientist whose work integrates epidemiology, biostatistics, implementation science, and data systems to address emerging public health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. He is a Co-Founder and Board Member of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI), where he contributes to the organization's strategic vision, research agenda, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at advancing equitable, evidence-informed health policies and strengthening research systems across East Africa.
Mr. Asani is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University, Canada, where his research examines temporal trends in anthropometric indices by HIV status in Uganda, with broader interests in cardiometabolic epidemiology, HIV, chronic disease prevention, maternal health, and advanced quantitative methods. His doctoral research leverages large population-based cohort data to understand the changing epidemiology of obesity and related anthropometric indicators among people living with and without HIV, generating evidence to inform clinical practice, public health policy, and chronic disease prevention strategies.
He earned a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration (First Class Honours) and a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from Makerere University. Since joining the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) in 2016, Mr. Asani has served in progressively responsible research leadership roles, including Research Assistant, WIN Study Mentor, and Assistant Supervisor for the Rakai Community Cohort Study, and most recently Data Manager. In these capacities, he has contributed to the implementation and management of large-scale longitudinal cohort studies, epidemiologic surveillance, electronic data capture systems, quality assurance, and implementation research supporting national and international public health programs.
His research spans HIV, cardiometabolic health, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, maternal and reproductive health, implementation science, and health systems strengthening. He has contributed to studies examining the intersection of communicable and non-communicable diseases, with a particular emphasis on generating high-quality evidence to improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations in resource-constrained settings. His methodological expertise includes epidemiologic study design, longitudinal data analysis, evidence synthesis, causal inference, and the application of advanced statistical methods to large population-based datasets.
Beyond his research, Mr. Asani is deeply committed to research capacity strengthening and mentorship. He has mentored more than ten Master of Public Health students in research proposal development, epidemiologic methods, statistical analysis, scientific writing, and dissertation completion. At Western University, he has served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Global Health Systems course, supporting graduate instruction, student learning, and academic assessment while maintaining an active research program.
Through both EAHERI and his academic career, Mr. Asani is committed to advancing collaborative, multidisciplinary research that bridges scientific evidence and public health practice. His long-term goal is to become an independent global health scientist leading innovative research that informs policy, strengthens health systems, and improves cardiometabolic, HIV, maternal, and population health outcomes across Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Racheal Samantha Nanzira
MBChB- OB/GYN, MPH
Executive Director
Executive Director
Dr. Racheal Samantha Nanzira is a Ugandan physician who earned her MBChB and specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, followed by a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Makerere University. Her career spans clinical medicine, medical education, and health-systems leadership. She currently serves as Executive Director of EAHERI and a board member.
She is also a senior OB/GYN at Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, a specialized national referral facility for obstetrics, pediatrics, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS care, and maternal-child health research, where she leads the Department of OB/GYN.
Dr. Nanzira holds several other positions, including Coordinator for the Kampala Metropolitan area within Uganda's Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), under the Ministry of Health, where she has championed the use of routine health data to strengthen clinical and management decision-making across maternal and newborn care services, in partnership with the Population Council and the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).
In academia, Dr. Nanzira serves as Associate Dean of the School of Medicine at Uganda Christian University (UCU), where she has trained several physicians across the country and continues to lead the Department of OB/GYN.
Kato Gerald
BBLT, MPH
Board Chair
Board Chair
Gerald Kato is the Board Chair of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI) and a Laboratory Systems Strengthening Specialist with over nine years of experience in public health laboratory management, quality assurance, and health systems strengthening in Uganda. He holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Technology from Makerere University, combining advanced technical expertise with a strong public health perspective to strengthen diagnostic systems and improve healthcare quality.
Gerald currently serves as Laboratory Coordinator for the Kampala HIV Project at Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, where he oversees laboratory services across 31 health facilities in Kampala. He has extensive expertise in developing and implementing Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS) aligned with ISO 15189:2022 standards and has successfully supported five laboratories, including Butabika National Referral Hospital, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, and Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, to achieve South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accreditation. His work also encompasses biosafety and biosecurity, including policy development, laboratory audits, risk management, and the procurement of critical equipment to strengthen laboratory safety and regulatory compliance.
In addition, Gerald serves as a Laboratory Technician in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at Uganda Christian University, where he supports the training of medical students through practical instruction in histopathology, clinical laboratory techniques, and laboratory quality management. He prepares laboratory materials, maintains laboratory equipment, and mentors students in standard operating procedures and quality assurance, helping bridge classroom learning with professional laboratory practice.
Previously, Gerald spent more than six years as a Laboratory Services Specialist at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), providing technical leadership across Kampala and the West Nile region. During this period, he strengthened laboratory systems by expanding the utilization of diagnostic technologies, including GeneXpert and BD FACS platforms, improving external quality assessment performance, strengthening integrated sample referral and transportation systems, and supporting laboratory infrastructure development across multiple health facilities.
A certified trainer and mentor in Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), biosafety, continuous quality improvement (CQI), and laboratory diagnostics, Gerald has trained numerous laboratory professionals and healthcare workers in HIV and tuberculosis diagnostics, laboratory auditing, quality assurance, and quality improvement methodologies. As Board Chair of EAHERI, he provides strategic governance and leadership, supporting the organization's mission to strengthen health systems, advance high-quality research, and promote equitable access to evidence-based healthcare across East Africa. His professional commitment is driven by a passion for building resilient laboratory systems and developing the next generation of laboratory and public health professionals to improve patient care and population health outcomes.
Specioza Mwima
B.Econ
Board Secretary
Board Secretary
Specioza Mwima serves as the Board Secretary of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI), where she plays a pivotal role in supporting the organization's governance framework. She coordinates board communications, prepares and maintains accurate records of board meetings, and ensures that board resolutions are effectively documented, communicated, and implemented. Through her commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, and organizational excellence, she contributes to strengthening transparency, accountability, and effective corporate governance across the institution.
Specioza is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Administration at Victoria University, building on a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Her academic background provides a solid foundation in financial management, organizational administration, and strategic decision-making.
She brings nearly a decade of experience in the health research sector, having served for five years with the Africa Medical and Behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO) and three years with the Medical Research Council (MRC). During this time, she worked in qualitative research data management, overseeing the review, editing, and timely submission of research transcripts while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance with established protocols. This experience has equipped her with exceptional attention to detail, organizational discipline, and a strong appreciation for structured governance processes.
Specioza is certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Human Subject Protection, and Phlebotomy, reflecting her commitment to ethical standards, quality assurance, and continuous professional development. She is recognized for her excellent communication and interpersonal skills, collaborative leadership style, and experience in community mobilization. These qualities enable her to effectively support EAHERI's Board in promoting sound governance, informed decision-making, and institutional accountability.
Daama Alex
BDRH, MPH, PhD Candidate
Board Member & Co-founder
Board Member & Co-founder
Alex Daama is an accomplished epidemiologist, public health specialist, and demographer with over a decade of experience in cohort research, population health measurement, and public health program implementation across Uganda and East Africa. He is Co-Founder and Board Member of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI), where he contributes to shaping the organization's research strategy and champions equity-driven, community-based approaches to strengthening health systems across the region.
Alex is currently a PhD student in Public Health (Epidemiology track) in the Joint Doctoral Program between San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego (2025–2030), mentored by Dr. Amanda P. Miller. Alongside his doctoral work, he holds concurrent appointments as a Graduate Research Fellow in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at SDSU, a Graduate Student Assistant with the SDSU Research Foundation, and a Research Associate with the Africa Medical and Behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO) in Uganda. He earned a first-class MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Makerere University (2018–2022), where his capstone examined tobacco use among youth in Wakiso District, and holds a bachelor's degree in Demography and Reproductive Health from Kyambogo University (2012–2015) — the foundation of his demographic expertise in population health measurement and reproductive health research.
Before his doctoral studies, Alex held a series of increasingly senior roles at AMBSO — including Program Director, Head of Epidemiology and Behavioral Studies, and Senior Management Team Member — leading cohort design and scientific strategy. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly a decade with the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP), progressing from intern and research assistant through HIV Cluster Administrator to Quality Control & Compliance Officer, contributing extensively to Uganda's population-based HIV research cohorts.
His research draws on both epidemiological and demographic methods to examine HIV incidence, intimate partner violence, food and water insecurity, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, COVID-19, implementation science, and social and structural determinants of health. He has co-authored 20 peer-reviewed publications, with two additional manuscripts currently under review, including Prevalence and factors associated with Advanced Disease among People Living with HIV in Masaka Region, Uganda and a longitudinal study on intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and HIV incidence among women in Wakiso and Hoima, Uganda, which he presented at SDSU's S3 Symposium, the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) 2026 (Phoenix, Arizona, USA) and at AIDS 2026 (IAS) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2026 (oral). His work has also been featured at IAS 2024 (Munich), CROI 2024 (Denver), and the INTEREST conference (2022).
Alex's research has been supported by fellowships including the Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship and University Graduate Fellowship at SDSU, a Fogarty international training grant through Johns Hopkins University and RHSP, an Episummer Scholarship from Columbia University, and conference scholarships from CROI 2024 and the 25th International AIDS Conference (2024). He currently serves as Data Analyst/Program Director on Merck-funded work on maternal vaccine confidence and as Research Associate/Coordinator on an NIH-funded study of prostate cancer among men of African ancestry, having previously led grant-funded research on tobacco control and mental health/alcohol-use interventions for adolescent girls and young women.
Beyond his own research, Alex actively mentors early-career scientists in Uganda and recently served as a poster judge at the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) conference 2026. He is a member of both SER and the BRIDGE Research Group.
Asani Kasango
BSWSA, MPH, PhD Candidate
Board Member & Co-founder
Board Member & Co-founder
Kasango Asani is an epidemiologist, public health researcher, and data scientist whose work integrates epidemiology, biostatistics, implementation science, and data systems to address emerging public health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. He is a Co-Founder and Board Member of the East African Institute for Health, Equity, Research & Innovation (EAHERI), where he contributes to the organization's strategic vision, research agenda, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at advancing equitable, evidence-informed health policies and strengthening research systems across East Africa.
Mr. Asani is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University, Canada, where his research examines temporal trends in anthropometric indices by HIV status in Uganda, with broader interests in cardiometabolic epidemiology, HIV, chronic disease prevention, maternal health, and advanced quantitative methods. His doctoral research leverages large population-based cohort data to understand the changing epidemiology of obesity and related anthropometric indicators among people living with and without HIV, generating evidence to inform clinical practice, public health policy, and chronic disease prevention strategies.
He earned a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration (First Class Honours) and a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from Makerere University. Since joining the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) in 2016, Mr. Asani has served in progressively responsible research leadership roles, including Research Assistant, WIN Study Mentor, and Assistant Supervisor for the Rakai Community Cohort Study, and most recently Data Manager. In these capacities, he has contributed to the implementation and management of large-scale longitudinal cohort studies, epidemiologic surveillance, electronic data capture systems, quality assurance, and implementation research supporting national and international public health programs.
His research spans HIV, cardiometabolic health, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, maternal and reproductive health, implementation science, and health systems strengthening. He has contributed to studies examining the intersection of communicable and non-communicable diseases, with a particular emphasis on generating high-quality evidence to improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations in resource-constrained settings. His methodological expertise includes epidemiologic study design, longitudinal data analysis, evidence synthesis, causal inference, and the application of advanced statistical methods to large population-based datasets.
Beyond his research, Mr. Asani is deeply committed to research capacity strengthening and mentorship. He has mentored more than ten Master of Public Health students in research proposal development, epidemiologic methods, statistical analysis, scientific writing, and dissertation completion. At Western University, he has served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Global Health Systems course, supporting graduate instruction, student learning, and academic assessment while maintaining an active research program.
Through both EAHERI and his academic career, Mr. Asani is committed to advancing collaborative, multidisciplinary research that bridges scientific evidence and public health practice. His long-term goal is to become an independent global health scientist leading innovative research that informs policy, strengthens health systems, and improves cardiometabolic, HIV, maternal, and population health outcomes across Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.