PSFU unveiled the New Chief Programmes Officer

Private Sector Foundation - Uganda has unveiled Ms. Damali Ssali, a Ugandan author, entrepreneur and a trade development expert with over 15 years in senior management as the newly appointed Chief Programmes Officer.

According to memo shared to staff, Ms. Ssali the Founder of the Ideation Corner will directly report to PSFU Chief Executive.

She has since been assigned to head Programme Management Unit (PMU), a new docket responsible for the identification and design of new programmes and projects, fundraising, program management and measurement and tracking of results and outcomes.

“Damali joins us with a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years with over 15 years in senior management roles. She is an Afro-optimist with a natural interest in financial services, trade, business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She is also Ugandan Ambassador to the United Nations Women Entrepreneurship Day Organization, an Advisory Board Member of the African Council for Trade, Tourism, and Investment (AfCOTTI) and a member of the Africa List,” PSFU wrote in a memo to staff.

“As PSFU family, we are glad to have you join our team and we look forward to learning and benefiting from the vast experience and skill set that you possess. We will take time to introduce you to our dynamic team and culture in the next few days and please call on us for help where needed. Again, welcome aboard and wishing you all the best in this new journey as we serve the Private Sector and Uganda at large,” the memo adds.

Notably, Damali helped steer the creation the of Cross Border Trade Facilitation Infrastructure portfolio of five One Stop Border Posts and supported the Ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Bilateral Trade Agreement between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo among others.

Her career journey started off in the United Kingdom, as a professionally trained chartered accountant, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant, and a career peak was as a Finance Director in the financial services industry, in the City of London, working with one of the world’s largest hedge funds.

In 2013, Damali relocated back to Uganda and transitioned her career into trade development. This was after obtaining a Master’s in Business Administration, from France’s Grenoble Graduate Business School, with a specialization in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Management.

Also, she recently completed an Executive Leadership Programme with Harvard Business School.

As an in integral member of the fintech network in Uganda she is engaged regularly to provide her expertise and input on financial services, trade, and policy aspects in fintech. She has engaged with the Ugandan fintech community for the last three years.

Over the last eight years since January 2013, Damali has worked with Trademark East Africa (TMEA) and during this period, working with the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives supported the Ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Ratification of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement and the Bilateral Trade Agreement between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At Uganda Revenue Authority, she supported the delivery of the Uganda Electronic Single Window and the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System to enable the automation of trade process and ease the movement of cargo on the Northern Corridor from Mombasa Port and the Central Corridor from the Dar Port.