People behind our mission.

Irene Athieno Obel is a seasoned development professional with over 15 years of experience in health, education, and social protection. As Executive Director of Restless Communities, she applies deep expertise in program management, systems strengthening and economic empowerment to advance sustainable, community-led development.

Irene has led complex, large-scale initiatives, managing multi-district operations, diverse teams, and strict compliance with international donor standards. She specializes in strategic leadership, household livelihoods and group-based socio-economic interventions that empower adolescent girls, young women, and caregivers.

A passionate advocate for child safeguarding and women's empowerment, Irene's vision for Restless Communities is to transform lives through practical skilling, mentorship, and resilient income-generating ventures.

Dean Obunya is a dynamic program management professional with over eight years of experience in program management, youth engagement, economic empowerment, and private sector partnerships. As Program Manager at Restless Communities, he brings a rigorous, evidence-based approach to program design and delivery.

Dean has held key leadership roles on large-scale initiatives funded by major donors like USAID, Mastercard Foundation, Irish Aid and SIDA, where he provided strategic direction and technical oversight for thousands of vulnerable households, improving viral suppression and household economic stability through careful planning and system strengthening.

His expertise lies in designing and scaling socio-economic models for youth in agribusiness and community-led savings. He has mobilized tens of thousands of young people, linked them to private sector opportunities, and supported the establishment of hundreds of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) groups, while mentoring community-based trainers in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Magdalene Kayanga is a highly skilled Professional Accountant with over six years of progressive experience in financial management, budgeting, and auditing across the NGO and corporate sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Makerere University and is currently pursuing Level 3 of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification from ICPAU.

Magdalene has extensive experience managing complex financial operations in donor-funded environments, including USAID programs, with strong expertise in financial reporting, grant management, and risk assessment.

As Finance Manager at Restless Communities, she focuses on streamlining financial processes and strengthening internal controls. She is proficient in systems such as QuickBooks and Beyonic and has successfully led initiatives to automate mobile money transactions and improve budget monitoring. Known for reducing financial variances and ensuring audit readiness, Magdalene is a strategic leader committed to fiscal integrity and sustainable financial growth in support of the organization's mission.

Mugote Francis Bukenya Wamala is a seasoned Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager with over 12 years of experience designing and implementing results-based MEL systems for multi-donor funded programs in Uganda. His work spans livelihoods, agriculture, health, education, and conservation, with a strong focus on turning data into actionable insights that improve program performance and community outcomes.

He has led MEL strategies for interventions reaching over 100,000 households and more than 400,000 children, youth, and caregivers. Francis has extensive expertise in data analysis, donor compliance (including USAID, EU, DANIDA, and Mastercard Foundation), capacity building, and quality assurance, with a strong track record of strengthening institutional systems and mentoring teams.

He holds a Master's Degree in Management Studies (Monitoring and Evaluation) from the Uganda Management Institute. Francis is passionate about using evidence to drive sustainable development and enhance the effectiveness of community-driven programs.