Our Team

Muya James Jemo

Executive Director / Founder

A Development Practitioner and Youth Leader from Karamoja, Uganda. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies & Management and brings multi-lateral skills in Videography, Photography, Waste Management, and Climate Change Action.

Community development initiatives since high school in 2010 include the 2020 Karamoja Go Green Campaign; Co-founded KAYESE 256; previously a member of Youth Advocacy and Development Network Uganda, Karamoja Human Rights Coalition Network; Research Associate to the Uganda Research Info Team; and Team Lead, Karamoja Language Translators Hub.

He serves on the Board of Moroto High School; Youth Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD); Lake Victoria Founding Youth Ambassadors Programme (LVYAP); IGAD Regional Youth Coalition on Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems (IGAD-RYCCAS); Civic Advisory Hub Youth Group; Ateker Creative Bridge; Universal Periodic Review Info Group; and Karamoja Defend Defenders Coalition. He is Chairperson of the Karamoja Creatives Association.

Key projects led: “One Person, One Tree” (climate action); “Skilling Young People, Empowering Young People”; “Moroto Ni Wetu”; and the weekly Moroto 5K Run.

“Youth are not just the future, but the present drivers of change.”

Lemu Eric Sam

Programs Coordinator / Co-Founder

Animal and livestock production scientist and practitioner. Holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Production and Management from Busitema University. A long-time serial entrepreneur, with ventures under Traditions Stores Ug Ltd, a social enterprise that aggregates products from young people across the region for marketing and distribution on a commission model, incorporating the VSLA model.

Consults on Enterprise Development, and currently consults with the WFP-funded Home Grown School Feeding Programme implemented by Sasakawa Africa Association in Kaabong, Kotido and Abim.

A grassroots mobiliser of youth for development activities, he is Secretary General of the Karamoja Creatives SACCO and co-founder of Karamoja Citizen Space. He actively participates in the Youth Inclusion in Governance and Accountability project with Restless Development, and documents stories on youth inclusion in governance under the Regional Youth Information Hub with Media Challenge Initiative.

He has advocated for enterprise development as a response to youth who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). His driving question: “Why would the young people of this region get trapped in poverty, in a region with such a wealth of resources and opportunities?” It is the principal motivation behind SEYIK.