Damali Ssali Appointed GAIN Uganda’s New Country Director

Damali Ssali has been appointed as the new Country Director for Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Uganda.

GAIN is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle malnutrition by working with governments, businesses and civil society.

Damali is a bold and visionary leader with over 18 years of executive-level experience at the intersection of financial services, trade facilitation, private sector development, and innovation in Africa.

As GAIN’s new Country Director in Uganda, she brings a unique combination of strategic insight, global expertise, and deep commitment to inclusive development.

Her professional journey began in the financial capital of London, where she worked with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) before returning to Uganda to take on leadership roles that have shaped the country’s economic and development agenda.

She served as Country Director at TradeMark Africa (TMA), where she led high-impact trade and logistics programs.

She most recently served as Chief of Programmes and Projects at the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), steering multi-sector initiatives and partnerships at the national level.

Damali is a chartered accountant and accomplished academic, having completed executive programs in leadership at Harvard Business School, impact investing at Saïd Business School (University of Oxford), and innovation management at the Grenoble Graduate School of Business.

She is also an ambassador for Ugandan women entrepreneurs, a published author, and founder of a platform that spotlights African innovators and changemakers.

At GAIN, Damali is going to lead efforts to transform food systems in Uganda—focusing on scalable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that promote better nutrition and healthier lives for all.

Her strong grounding in private sector dynamics, policy dialogue, and social entrepreneurship uniquely positions her to drive systemic change in the way food is produced, accessed, and consumed across the country.