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The consulting industry serving public institutions, development organizations, is experiencing dynamic shifts. Leading these complex shifts in the Ugandan development space is Priscilla Mirembe Serukka, an accomplished senior executive in the development sector, currently serving as Managing Director of Kairos Consult.
With 15 years as regional Director at Stromme Foundation, Priscilla has guided teams and strategy across six countries in East Africa. A recognized leader in governance, team-building, and strategic consulting, Priscilla also played a pivotal role in establishing Stromme Microfinance, now SOLUTI Finance EA.
Known for her motivating leadership style and negotiation skills, Priscilla brings commitment, resilience, and purpose to every role she takes on. Adept at navigating multicultural environments, she is committed to driving impact-led and people-centred development in Uganda.
Take us through the formative years of your life and key early influences.
Growing up as the third of seven children, I developed independence and determination early on. At age 15, I lost my father, which became a pivotal moment in my life. The following year, my mother was forced into exile in Kenya, leaving us to navigate uncertainty and grow stronger through it.
My educational journey was shaped by generosity and support during difficult times. During my teenage years, I benefited from a bursary from a leading girls’ boarding school that I was attending in Uganda, that allowed me to complete my O and A-levels. This defining experience instilled in me a lasting commitment to education equity. To date, I always have a young girl I am supporting through school. Managing others through leadership responsibilities in school, taught me responsibility, built my emotional intelligence, and my mother taught me the value of discipline, and hard work.
Progress starts with actions, outcomes follow only when we begin
Take us through your journey in the social development sector and highlight the most crucial junctures.
My career began in commercial banking but I soon transitioned to the European Development Fund Micro-Projects program, contributing as a credit assistant to Uganda’s post-conflict rehabilitation efforts. I progressed through the ranks and after three years I became the Accounting Officer for the Financial services project. After six years, I advanced to lead and manage multi-country programs with a Norwegian NGO named Stromme Foundation.
For over 15 years, I drove innovative education and microfinance projects targeting poverty reduction, especially for women and adolescent girls. My experience across regions helped shape interventions promoting women’s empowerment and girls’ education in Eastern Africa. I actively advocated for equal opportunities and women’s rights to foster dignified, sustainable growth in underserved communities.
What’s the underlying idea and inspiration behind establishing Kairos Consult?
After 15 years leading a mission-driven organization, I saw how strong governance and principled leadership can unlock funding and deliver high-impact outcomes for marginalized communities. This inspired me to found Kairos Consult, focusing on corporate governance and leadership training.
Despite women making up 54 percent of Uganda’s population and a growing number holding strong academic credentials, women remain underrepresented in leadership. Only 23 percent serve on corporate boards, fewer than 14 percent as chairs, and just six percent as CEOs. This disparity drives our strategic focus as an organization to promote women’s inclusion in governance.
Kairos Consult provides expert services in leadership development, project and strategy evaluations, donor program support, and management skills training.
Our upcoming training sessions in July and September aim at equipping women for effective board participation. Parallel efforts include workshops for younger women-held in December and March, to nurture future women leaders.
How has Kairos Consult’s growth journey been so far?
Since Kairos Consult’s inception in early 2020, we have partnered with diverse organizations across East Africa to offer high-quality, client-centred services. Our approach is rooted in equity, dignity, transparency, and collaboration. From microfinance and government agencies to SMEs and international NGOs, we bring deep expertise and a participatory mindset to every engagement.
What challenges do you encounter while leading Kairos Consult and how do you navigate through these roadblocks?
Today, competition has grown significantly even in agencies specialising in corporate governance. To stay ahead, we focus on delivering exceptional value and go the extra mile. One persistent challenge is the lack of transparency in proposal processes, where outcomes are sometimes predetermined. To manage resources wisely, we now assess the legitimacy of each call before committing our team’s time and effort.
At Kairos Consult, we strive to stand out by ensuring every engagement adds meaningful insight, our reports are built for impacts, not just compliance. Networking has also become a vital learning tool, helping us refine our pitch and build strategic visibility.
Which significant professional milestones have you achieved? What is your ‘success mantra’?
Establishing a consultancy amid the pandemic and achieving market credibility marked a significant turning point. Equally impactful was the successful launch of Uganda’s ‘Women on Boards’ program, empowering women in governance and nurturing future board talent. To prepare women for effective board participation, we are developing a practical training program that tackles the real barriers to women’s higher performance.
My success mantra is grounded in faith and even when fear is present, I stay persistent and keep moving ahead believing in my actions. I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am driven by measurable outcomes and pride myself in delivering lasting impact.
What are some of the key social challenges that Uganda faces currently? How is the country addressing these roadblocks?
With 75 percent of Uganda’s population under 35, youth unemployment is a critical issue. The goal is to develop job creators, not just job seekers, through skill development, business training, and targeted youth funding initiatives.
To enhance economic growth, Uganda is prioritizing regional integration, tourism promotion, and foreign investment. The country is seeking to enhance industrialisation and not export raw products, seek better trade terms, supported by infrastructure like our national airline to enhance regional connectivity and market access.
Uganda has taken steps toward empowering women in leadership, ensuring stronger female representation in high-impact roles is essential, especially as the nation approaches a pivotal election year.
Priscilla Mirembe Serukka, Managing Director, Kairos Consult
With over 15 years of regional leadership experience, Priscilla Mirembe Serukka, is a visionary NGO and development sector executive. She brings deep expertise in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and organizational development. Priscilla has driven transformative, poverty-focused programs and remains a passionate advocate for inclusive, sustainable development.
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