Katusabe Ruth, Director & Founder of RESMA

A Message from Our Founder & Director

“I did not choose the circumstances that led me to raise my child as a single mother, but I chose not to let those circumstances define my future.”

My journey as a single mother is deeply connected to the reason Rise to Empower Single Mothers Africa (RESMA) exists. I understand, personally, the weight of raising a child without adequate support—the financial pressure, social stigma, uncertainty, and emotional challenges that many mothers silently carry.

For many women, single motherhood is not simply a personal choice or circumstance. It is often rooted in gender-based violence, abandonment, exploitation, unequal power relations, and social and economic inequalities that leave women carrying the responsibility of raising children alone. Behind the growing number of single-mother households are women whose lives have been profoundly affected by violence, discrimination, and the absence of meaningful protection and support.

This reality must not be met with judgment. It must be met with dignity, justice, protection, opportunity, and hope.

RESMA was born from this conviction. We believe that a single mother does not need pity—she needs an opportunity to rebuild, a safe environment in which to thrive, access to economic opportunities, healthcare and social support, and a voice to defend her rights.

Through economic empowerment, vocational skills, livelihood support, health services, child protection and education, human rights advocacy, and community-based interventions, RESMA addresses both the immediate needs and the underlying causes of vulnerability. We seek to help mothers become economically resilient while ensuring that their children remain safe, healthy, and in school.

I founded RESMA because I know what it means to face challenges that can make a woman feel alone. I also know the strength that exists within a mother when someone believes in her.

Our mission is therefore bigger than supporting individual mothers. We are working to break cycles of violence, poverty, discrimination, and dependency—while creating pathways for women and children to live with dignity and hope.

I invite partners, communities, institutions, and well-wishers to join us in this journey. Together, we can create a society where no woman is defined by the violence or hardship she has experienced, and where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and dream.

“When we empower a mother, we strengthen a family. When we protect a mother from violence, we protect a generation. And when we keep her child in school, we invest in the future of Africa.”

Katusabe Ruth

Director & Founder

Rise to Empower Single Mothers Africa (RESMA)

📞 +256 784016593

Our Team

Meet our dedicated management and field officers delivering impact on the ground in Fort Portal Tourism City, Uganda. Click on any leader to view their full profile, bio, and key responsibilities.

Katusabe Ruth - Director
Executive Leadership

Katusabe Ruth

Director & Founder

🎓 B. Public Administration (MMU)

Provides overall strategic leadership, resource mobilization, and organizational vision to uplift single mothers and children.

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Kabugumire James Mugasa - Finance / General Secretary
Finance & Secretarial

Kabugumire James Mugasa

Finance / General Secretary

🎓 BSc Quantitative Economics (Makerere)

Oversees institutional governance, financial planning, budgeting, statutory compliance, and donor accountability.

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Irumba Wilson - Operations Manager
Field Operations

Irumba Wilson

Operations Manager

🎓 BSc Econ (Makerere) | MSc Dev Studies (Rotterdam)

Directs day-to-day grassroots operations, vocational skilling workshops, logistical support, and project site execution.

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Ruyonga John - M&E Officer
Monitoring & Evaluation

Ruyonga John

M&E Officer

🎓 B. Computer Science (MMU)

Leads program monitoring, digital data tracking, baseline surveys, impact evaluation, and quality assurance.

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Kanyiginya Edith - Administrator
Administration

Kanyiginya Edith

Administrator

🎓 B. Public Administration (MMU)

Manages central office operations, beneficiary documentation, institutional correspondence, and meeting records.

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Agaba Joash - Legal Officer
Legal & Advocacy

Agaba Joash

Legal Officer

🎓 Bachelor of Laws (Univ. of East Africa)

Champions legal aid services, protection of property and human rights, defense against GBV, and civic education.

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Wodidi Jonah - IT/Technical Manager
IT & Technical Management

Wodidi Jonah

IT / Technical Manager

🎓 BSc & MSc Biomedical Engineering (ECUREI)

Leads IT infrastructure, technical systems, data security, digital tools, and technology-driven community empowerment.

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