Damali Ssali to lead GAIN Uganda: Can she transform the nation’s food future?

KAMPALA, Uganda – In the heart of East Africa, where nutrition challenges persist amid a rapidly changing economic landscape, a familiar name in development leadership is stepping into a bold new chapter.

Damali Ssali, an accomplished investment strategist and trade expert with an 18-year track record across Africa and the UK, has been appointed Country Director for GAIN Uganda—an organization aiming to transform the nation’s food system into a model of sustainability, inclusivity, and impact.

With a leadership portfolio that includes over $250 million in mobilized investments, landmark infrastructure projects, and policy breakthroughs, Ssali is not just changing titles—she’s poised to redefine how Uganda feeds its people.

“With her Afro-optimism, policy expertise, and people-centered leadership, Damali is positioning GAIN as a catalyst for lasting impact and positive change in Uganda’s food and nutrition landscape,” said a colleague familiar with her appointment.

A Global Career Rooted in Purpose

The story begins far from Kampala—in the polished glass towers of London’s financial district. Ssali, then a young accountant, was working with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)—one of the world’s largest social impact investors.

“That experience ignited her passion for development and social impact,” said a former colleague.

But what started as balancing financial sheets soon evolved into a deeper calling. Ssali’s exposure to high-stakes philanthropy at CIFF became the crucible in which her long-term mission—to drive large-scale, high-return, socially impactful projects—was formed.

Upon her return to Uganda, she didn’t just reintegrate—she reimagined the country’s trade and infrastructure ecosystem.

Redrawing East Africa’s Trade Map

As country director at TradeMark Africa (TMA), Ssali led one of the most transformative investment efforts in the region. Over nine years, she oversaw $250 million in trade-related investments that dramatically improved Uganda’s economic positioning.

Her leadership facilitated the construction of seven one-stop border posts, including key arteries at Busia, Malaba, Elegu, Mutukula, Mirama Hills, Goli, and the Ntoroko Lake Port, as well as the development of the Gulu Logistics Hub.

These projects weren’t just concrete and steel—they were instruments of economic acceleration, shaving off bureaucratic delays and opening markets to Ugandan businesses. She also championed Uganda’s ratification of two pivotal trade frameworks: the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement—putting Uganda at the center of Africa’s evolving trade narrative.

Perhaps the most compelling metric of her time at TMA was the USD 32.9 million in annual cost savings for Ugandan businesses achieved through automated trade systems—equating to a 154 percent return on investment by 2018. In an era where many development projects struggle to quantify outcomes, Ssali delivered results with balance-sheet precision.

Private Sector with a Public Purpose

At the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Ssali pivoted her focus from infrastructure to human capital development—but her ambition didn’t shrink. She designed Uganda’s first USD 1 billion Private Sector Catalytic Fund, successfully securing USD 10 million in new project financing.

Her flagship initiative—the Lead Firm Structure Project—became a benchmark in public-private collaboration. It created over 174,000 direct jobs and 523,000 indirect jobs, particularly for Ugandans under 35, in partnership with 37 companies.

“She demonstrated the private sector’s capacity to drive socio-economic development profitably,” one stakeholder noted.

This ability to align commercial success with social impact now sits at the core of her mission at GAIN Uganda.

Taking On Uganda’s Nutrition Crisis

Now at GAIN, Ssali is stepping into a new arena—one where her economic, trade, and development experience will converge to solve one of Uganda’s most urgent challenges: nutrition insecurity.

Her vision is bold but clear: a nationwide transformation of the food system—one that champions inclusive, scalable, and sustainable approaches to nutrition.

“This is not just about food access; it’s about ensuring that every Ugandan has the opportunity to live a healthier life through better nutrition systems,” Ssali has said.

The stakes are high. Uganda faces malnutrition and stunting rates that hinder economic growth and strain health systems. Yet the country also holds untapped potential in local food production, agro-processing, and youth-led innovation in agriculture.

This is where Ssali’s trademark cross-sector thinking comes into play. Her approach combines policy advocacy, private sector engagement, and community-driven innovation—with an eye toward long-term systemic impact.

Built for the Challenge

Her professional credentials are matched by academic excellence. Ssali is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and an alumna of executive programs at Harvard Business School (leadership), Oxford’s Saïd Business School (impact investing), and Grenoble Ecole de Management in France (innovation management).

Colleagues describe her as a rare combination of strategic thinker, inspirational leader, and operational driver.

“She brings strategic insight, global expertise, and deep commitment to inclusive growth,” one former team member noted.

Beyond the Boardroom

Outside of her executive roles, Ssali remains deeply committed to nurturing young African talent. She is a vocal advocate for women entrepreneurs, a published author, and the founder of a platform that spotlights African innovators. Her personal brand of leadership is unapologetically Afrocentric, rooted in optimism and driven by the belief that Africa’s solutions will come from within.

“With Damali at the helm, GAIN Uganda isn’t just gaining a leader—it’s gaining a movement,” said a former colleague.

The Road Ahead

Ssali’s challenge now is to translate her impressive legacy in trade and infrastructure into a resilient food system that can withstand climate shocks, economic volatility, and population growth.

The difference this time? It’s not about moving goods—it’s about nourishing people. And while many are asking whether Uganda is ready for the kind of systems transformation she envisions, her track record offers a more compelling question:

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