BLI Governance
The ultimate goal is to have Bethany Land Institute be a Ugandan run organization. A USA Board of Directors, along with an Advisory Board of experts in their fields, has been set up in the US. The USA Board is responsible for funding and oversight of the project until the Institute becomes self-sustaining. In addition, a Uganda Board has been set up to oversee the building of the campus, curriculum development, programs, human resources, and operations. The Uganda Board is tasked with detailed reporting on how all funds sent from the USA are used. The Advisory Board will assist both Boards within the areas of the member’s expertise. Lines of communication have been set up so that the two Boards can work collaboratively.
BLI Founders
Fr. Emmanuel Katongole
Fr. Emmanuel Katongole is a co-founder and President of Bethany Land Institute. He is a Catholic priest ordained for the Archdiocese of Kampala. He serves as professor of Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Before joining Notre Dame in 2013, he served as associate professor of theology and world Christianity at Duke University, where he was the founding co-director of the Duke Divinity School’s Center for Reconciliation. He is the author of several books, including most recently, Born From Lament: On the Theology and Politics of Hope in Africa (Eerdmans, 2017) and The Journey of Reconciliation: Groaning for A New Creation in Africa (Orbis, 2017). Fr. Emmanuel serves as the Chair of the BLI USA Board
Fr. Anthony (Tony) Rweza
Fr. Tony Rweza is co-founder and Board Chair of the Uganda Board of Bethany Land Institute. He is a priest ordained for the diocese of Jinja, but presently working for the Bishops Conference as Managing Director of Interservice, the procurement and logistics agency of the Catholic Church in Uganda. Fr. Tony holds a Masters degree in Business administration of Non-profits (MSA) from Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame (1998).He is Chair of the Finance & Planning Committee of the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau; and Board member of the Health Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, a founder Board member of Pax Insurance Company operating in Uganda. He’s a member of Board of Radio Sapientia. He’s Chair of Board of Governors of St Denis Senior Secondary school. He’s also a member of the Finance Commission of the Diocese of Jinja. Fr. Tony serves on the Board of BLI Uganda and BLI USA.
Fr. Ssempala Cornelius
Fr. Cornelius Ssempala is co-founder of Bethany Land Institute. He is a Catholic priest, ordained for Kampala Archdiocese. He holds a Doctor (PhD) of Philosophy, and Masters (Licentiate) of Philosophy from Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven, Belgium. He currently lectures at Makerere University Kampala, Uganda, School of Education, and at St Mbaaga’s Seminary Ggaba, Uganda. He is chair on the Board of Trinity College Nabbingo and St John the Baptist, Primary Teachers’ College, Ggaba in Uganda; Member, University Council, Uganda Martyrs’ University, Nkozi, Uganda and Board of Governors, St Peter’s Secondary School, Nsambya, Uganda. Fr. Cornelius serves on the Board of BLI Uganda and BLI USA.
BLI USA Board of Directors
Andrea Cate Crary
Andrea Crary is a 2012 Wheaton College graduate, with an interdisciplinary degree focused on food security. Post college she has worked for Cargill and as a marketing and education manager for a non-profit urban farm on Chicago’s South side.
Lori Giovannini
Lori Giovannini is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Boston University and is a Christian Life Coach. Lori has worked as the Executive Director of Reachout Women Center, the largest Catholic Pro-Life Pregnancy Help Center in Tucson, Arizona serving over 6,000 vulnerable women a year. She has served on several Boards and is currently the Vice President of the Board of the South Bend Elkhart Chapter of the Legatus Organization.
Sara Hohnstein
Sara Hohnstein is the Director of Operations at the Issachar Fund. Sara has a wealth of experience in program development, management and evaluation. Prior to her position at the Issachar Fund, Sara worked for an international Christian ministry, Colorado State University, and as the Executive Director of the Heart Ministry Center. At the Issachar Fund, Sara oversees the operations of the fund, builds partnerships with organizations and scholars, and aids in developing Issachar Fund programs. Sara earned her Master in Social Work degree from Colorado State University.
Maureen Newsom
Maureen Newsom is serving as the BLI treasurer. She graduated from Notre Dame in 1980 with a BA in History and an accounting degree from Indiana University at South Bend in 1982. For the past 20 years she has worked as the business manager at Saint Pius X Catholic Church in South Bend Indiana while raising six wonderful children.
BLI Uganda Board of Directors
Geofrey Arinaitwe
Geofrey Arinaitwe is a multi-skilled Agricultural/Biotechnology Research Scientist at Makerere University’s Agricultural Research Institute. He has highly developed analytical and managerial skills, reporting and administrative skills. He seeks to contribute to peoples livelihoods using his education and professional experience, with opportunities for personal and professional growth. He holds a Master in Business Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Bioscience Engineering, Master of Science in Agriculture and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He has received honors and awards in NARO-NARL Scientist of the Year NARO-NARL – 2009; Scientific Excellence- Gen. Engineering of Bananas – 2010; NARO- Council Scientific Excellence – 2011; and NARO-Council Scientific Excellence; Unsung Hero – 2012.
Catherine Barasa Asekenye
Catherine Barasa is a Senior Social Development Specialist – World Bank. She married and is blessed with five children. She is member in many Community and Catholic Church support activities in the country. Catherine is a Sociologist, Gender & Women Studies and International Public Health Specialist. She has a wealth of international work experience with UNAIDS, DANIDA, Ireland AID, USAID, ICRC, UN and UNHCR. She received two Awards from ICRC and UNHCR of Record Breaking Results through Australia for UNHCR. She just received the 2017 World Bank VPU Award in recognition of outstanding team achievement for Development Response to Displacement Impacts (DRDIP). She has also worked with Government, private, and civil sectors.
Fr. James Kabonghe
Fr. James Kabonghe is a Catholic priest and Agriculturalist. Fr. James holds a BA Philosophy, Urban University Rome 1991, Bachelors of Theology, Urban University, Rome 1994; Diploma Educational Management, Nkozi University 2001; Diploma Sustainable Agriculture for Rural Development, Baraka College – Kenya 2009. Fr, James currently serves as a Priest of Jinja Diocese and works at Kagoma Catholic Parish, Caritas Jinja Diocese and is the in-charge of Agricultural Development Programs. He also serves as Board Member of SARD-NET Uganda.
Fr. Joseph Nnyanzi Kakooza
Fr. Joseph Kakooza was ordained as a Catholic priest in the Kampala Archdiocese in 1985, Fr. Joseph currently serves in the diocese of Kasana Luweero, as the rector/administrator of the Kasana Cathedral Parish. He is the coordinator of diocesan lands and investments. Educated in Uganda, he also studied Pastoral Theology at the University of Notre Dame and served at Holy Family Parish in South Bend, Indiana. Since his ordination Fr. Joe has served in various parishes. Apart from parish ministry, he has served as the treasurer of his diocese of Kasana Luweero for twelve years.
Josephine Kizza
Josephine Kizza holds a Degree in Organic Agriculture, Reading University, United Kingdom; a Diploma in Food Processing, Branding and Marketing, Copenhagen; a Diploma in Education, Kyambogo University, a Certificate in Water shade Management and a Certificate in Education. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of St Jude Family Projects started with her late husband in 1993 to support rural small holder farmers with practical and sustainable organic farming practices so that they improve their incomes and livelihoods. Major activities are on a 3.7 acre demonstration farm with 17 integrated agricultural projects, offering simple and practical skills that have reached out to 6,000 families of small holder farmers and 12,000 youth who have become job creators. The project has attracted high profile visits from His Excellence President Museveni of Uganda, cabinet ministers, members of parliament, cultural and religious Leaders among others.
Margaret K. Sakwa
Margaret Sakwa serves as the Board Secretary of Bethany Land Institute. She is married with three children. She is an Advocate of the High Court in Uganda. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, a Post Graduate Bar Course and Post graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management. Since 2016, Margaret has practiced law with Sakwa Advocates, specializing in company secretarial services; corporate governance and compliance; legal advisory and consultancy; and land conveyancing. She serves as a Court Accredited Mediator in the Commercial Division of the High Court. She previously worked as in-house counsel for a top government parastatal and continues to serve as legal advisor and Board secretary to several private companies and NGO sector.
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BLI USA Staff
Bob Johnson
Facilities Consultant
Bob is a Structural Engineering Consultant who has been with BLI since 2016. He has been volunteering with BLI as an Owners Representative for facilities. Bob guided BLI through the development of the Preliminary Facilities Plan. He coordinated BLI’s vision with EMI, who designed the Master Plan for the BLI campus. Bob currently works closely with the facilities planning team in Uganda. Bob has 10 years of experience as the Technical Advisor for the 20 Liters, a water organization in Rwanda.
Macky Johnson
Assistant to Board President
Macky Johnson is serving as assistant to Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, and as recording secretary to the BLI board. Retired, she comes to BLI with years of experience in office management and bookkeeping. She served for 10 years as the program coordinator for 20 Liters, a water organization in Rwanda that she and her husband Bob were instrumental in founding.
Theresa Murray
Development Coordinator
Theresa is the Development Coordinator for BLI USA. She is a CPA (non-active) and holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Fundraising from the University of St. Thomas Minneapolis, MN. Theresa has spent 18 years on Non-Profit Boards, in both governance and functional roles from Treasurer to the chair of various committees to President. She has consulted with small businesses in finance and business development. Theresa volunteers with Interfaith Organizations assisting at risk families, educational institutions and governmental entities. She became involved with BLI after her son, a doctoral candidate at Notre Dame University, visited BLI as a participant in the Center for Social Concerns Common Good Initiative.