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Andrea Sedlock - Founder and Executive Director
Founder & Executive Director

Andrea Sedlock

Andrea found her life’s passion and purpose while participating in a volunteer service trip to Kabale, Uganda, in 2009. After many trips to Africa, Andrea started, in 2014, the charitable organization Rukundo International (RI). Initially bringing clean water to the Kabale District of Southwestern Uganda, four years later, RI launched its Flagship Program, Rukundo Preparatory School. The school is located in the rural community of Kyanamira, with the goal to partner and impact the whole community: one child at a time. Currently, RI helps over 1,000 people via five community-based projects.

Andrea holds a B.S. in Animal & Veterinary Sciences and an M.S. in Genetics and Developmental Biology from West Virginia University. She is currently employed as a biologist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and successfully runs RI in Uganda and the U.S. She resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with her husband and daughter.

Board Treasurer

John Sprieser

John’s early career was in finance, where he eventually became CFO of a venture-backed company providing IT services to the entertainment production industry. He later moved into operations as the chief operating officer of a major advertising research firm and subsequently purchased, grew and sold a Chicago-based computer systems company serving the industrial process controls industry. He and his wife now live in North Bethesda, Maryland.

He holds a BBA from the University of Oklahoma, an MBA from Indiana University and is a registered CPA in Illinois.

John Sprieser
Photo of board member Tanya Parker.
Board Secretary

Tanya Parker

Tanya Parker has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and oversight, both as an employee and as a board member. She has devoted much of her career to leading reproductive health care services delivery to diverse and vulnerable populations. Tanya currently serves as Director of Compliance and Strategic Projects for a Planned Parenthood affiliate and is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Tanya holds both a Master’s degree in African History and a Master of Public Health from Boston University and spent her early career working in international development. Her time in East and West Africa solidified her lifelong dedication to supporting work in local communities.

Board Member

Kimberly Newman

Kimberly has worked in the Hospitality and Tourism Sales industry for over 25 years. Specifically in the area of large Global Events Sales & Marketing. A majority of her focus was on acquisition, event execution, and cultivating new industry partner relationships.

Kimberly’s roles include VP of Business Development, Virtual Planner, and Event Travel Director. She has a wealth of experience overseeing global event services for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and sporting associations. Kimberly’s career highlights include events like Presidential Inaugurations, White House Correspondents dinners, and the Super Bowl. Committed to community service, she has supported fundraising efforts for various missions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimberly played a crucial role in national relief efforts and collaborated with FEMA and government agencies. 

Outside of working, Kimberly’s spare time is spent introducing her 13-year old son to the world of volunteerism and travel. 

Kimberly Newman
Melissa de Jesús
Board Member

Melissa de Jesús

Melissa is a public health practitioner with over 20 years of domestic and international experience, with a focus on HIV prevention, reproductive health, substance use disorders, & mental health issues. Her expertise includes program development and management; technical assistance; monitoring and evaluation; partnership development; cross-sector collaboration, and grants management. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Uganda 2003 – 2005), she was part of the first cohort of volunteers that helped to implement the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Melissa’s career has included the implementation/management of federally funded grant programs and subsequently monitoring federally funded grant recipients. Her experience has spanned work in federal, state, and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and a consulting firm. 

She holds a Master’s degree in Science with a focus on Community Health from Towson University. She also holds a bachelor degree in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and a Healthcare Leadership Certificate from Duke University.

Board Advisor

Grant Milne

In early January 2022, Grant retired from the World Bank Group in Washington DC after a 19 year career. During this time, he worked as a Senior Technical Specialist and Advisor, focusing on poverty alleviation tied to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and water resources. Grant led teams to prepare and provide oversight on major development projects and analytical work in South Asia and Africa, and supported smaller operations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. He also was a peer reviewer on more than 120 internal quality assurance panels for lending and non-lending projects.

From 1992 to 2003, Grant lived and worked throughout Africa, first as a Chief Technical Advisor in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and later as a private consultant for a range of international clients. He was a founding partner and non-Executive Board member of a major financial institution in Zimbabwe and a Board member of a large non-governmental organization dealing with environmental management. He holds a BSc in Forestry and an MSc in Natural Resource Economics from the University of Alberta, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics and Policy from Edinburgh University. He has lived in six countries (Canada, USA, UK, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, South Africa) and has extensive experience in another 60 countries.

Grant Milne Bio Image

Uganda

Grace Nyakaishikyi Kamuhanda
Board Vice Chair

Grace Kamuhanda

Grace Nyakaishikyi Kamuhanda was born in Kabale, Uganda, and raised in America. After serving in the U.S. military, she relocated to Uganda in 2005. With her diverse background in management, marketing and sanitation, Grace has gained valuable experience over her 17 years in Uganda, including a 5-year employment with Crest Tanks as an internal auditor, ensuring ISO certification and compliance.

Grace’s journey with Rukundo International (RI) began by teaching the staff and students income-generating skills, like baking, and quickly led to her involvement on the organization’s board. Being close to her hometown, she finds immense joy in witnessing the positive impact of RI’s programs on the community. Her interactions with the children, community members, and even her own relatives involved with the organization are deeply rewarding, often moving her to tears. Grace is dedicated and passionate about making a difference.

Board Secretary

Innocent Muhereza

Innocent Muhereza is a professional medical clinical officer and instructor working with Rugarama Hospital Diocese of Kigezi, Kabale, Uganda. Innocent is a vibrant Ugandan with a great passion for service. He is a past President of the Rotaract Club of Kabale and Assistant District Rotaract Representative for the west zone 3 for Tanzania and Uganda.

Through service to other people, he has managed to help the surrounding communities in many ways by improving their health, social and emotional wellbeing, knowledge, and capacity building. He believes service is the rent we pay for the opportunity to live on this earth.

Innocent Muhereza
Loyce Kyomugisha
Board Treasurer

Loyce Kyomugisha

Loyce holds a diploma in Business Education from Kyambogo University, and both a Bachelors and a Masters of Business Administration from Kabale University.  She has a lengthy career working with Rugarama Hospital in Kabale, where she quickly moved from cashier, to the school bursar for the nursing and midwifery section, to her current position as an Accountant and the Head of the Finance Department. Her volunteer experiences include sensitizing the community on various health issues, including certification in HIV and AIDS counseling. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering, being outdoors, and traveling. 

Board Publicity Secretary

Peter Namanya

Peter is a skilled public relations professional with vast experience in fostering positive relationships between organizations and the media. Peter has a strong academic background, having served as a lecturer at Uganda Christian University, and a passion for serving his local community. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Uganda Christian University and is currently pursuing his Masters in Public Health from the University of Suffolk.

Peter’s possesses a deep commitment to making a positive impact on community health and well-being. As the Director of the NGO Kabale Christian Care, he believes in extending the love of Christ through healthcare and education services, particularly to those who are marginalized or face barriers to accessing essential resources.

Beyond his professional achievements, Peter is a loving husband and a devoted father to his lovely daughter. His personal experiences as a family man further fuel his desire to create a better future for his community, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to quality healthcare and education.

Benet Byereta
Board Member

Benet Byereta

Benet Byreta is a dedicated community development farm worker with extensive experience in farming activities. He holds an Advanced Certificate from Kigezi College Butobere in Kabale, Uganda. Benet has also completed the Horticulture and Irrigation Management Program for Uganda at the Galilee International Management Institute in Haifa City, Israel.

With his educational background and specialized training, Benet brings a wealth of knowledge in horticulture and irrigation management to his work. As the Managing Director of Canrose Uganda Ltd, he applies his expertise to support and motivate workers, ensuring successful day-to-day operations and long-term projects.

Benet is also a trainer of trainers in agribusiness, focusing on empowering young women and men with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the field. His commitment to community development goes beyond his professional work. He has volunteered with Compassion International and actively serves on school management and construction committees.

Rukundo White Logo

Rukundo International is a 501c3 nonprofit in the United States and a registered NGO in Uganda. We are based in Gaithersburg, MD but work primarily in Kabale, Uganda to provide education and resources to vulnerable children and their communities.

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