Our Team

Aimé Rebecca is the Founder and CEO of Patapia, a social enterprise empowering refugee women in Uganda through business training, mentorship, and micro-financing.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she became a refugee in Uganda in 2010 at the age of 13. Faced with economic hardships, she ventured into small businesses to support her family. In 2016, she joined the Social Innovation Academy (SINA), where she received training in leadership and social entrepreneurship. This experience inspired her to create Patapia, which helps marginalized women achieve financial independence.

Her work has earned her multiple recognitions, including: • GSMA Humanitarian Innovation Fund (2024) • Echoing Green Fellow (2022) • Young Global Changer (2022) • Acumen Fellow (2023) • Meaningful Business 100 (2020)

In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Aimé Rebecca is passionate about Social impact and taking care of her family.

Passionate about empowering refugee women through entrepreneurship, Geoffrey is the Co-Founder and COO of Patapia. With over a decade of experience in business startups, he thrives on mentoring and facilitating projects that spark innovation and social impact. He's had the privilege of guiding numerous ideas from concept to reality, many of which have blossomed into award-winning social businesses recognized by influential figures such as Barack Obama and Ban Ki-Moon.

Throughout his journey, he has also coordinated the Social Impact Award in Uganda since 2018 and taken part in various prestigious programs, including being an Africa Changemaker Fellow and a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. His experiences have allowed him to engage with changemakers globally, including participation in the Autumn School for Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Germany, as an Exchange program participant with FIUTS at the University of Washington in Seattle and the Innovating Education in Africa Expo in Botswana.

When he's not working on empowering others, you can find him tinkering with technology and building things, playing basketball, reading, watching movies or enjoying the beauty of nature. He believes that learning never stops, and he's always eager to gain new perspectives and insights from those around him.

Mr. Daniel Mwesigwa CPA is a senior Finance professional with over 14 years of Experience in Financial and Control system Development, Financial Management and Reporting, Grant Management for the private sector, NGOs both in Uganda & Kenya such as Self Help Africa.

He has worked with developing partners such as MercyCorps, Dynamic, DFID, Irish Aid, MasterCard, Palladium, TradeMark EastAfrica, WHO and Government Ministries & Agencies Such as Ministry of Health, GAVI, NMS.

Daniel's career has seen many startups meet business and financial targets with Revenue Increase, Organisation Alignment, and Grant Management. He holds a CPA(U) and Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a bias in Finance & Accounting along with other Accounting Certifications.

Womayosi Patrick - The Man with a Big Heart, a Love for Arsenal, and a Green Thumb.

When he's not busy making a difference in the community as the Patapia Microfinance Manager, you'll probably find Womayosi Patrick passionately cheering for Arsenal (even when they stress him out). A true football fan, he enjoys watching matches, visiting friends, swimming, and most importantly helping those in need.

Patrick also has a deep love for nature, especially planting trees, with a special focus on fruit-bearing ones. He believes that trees not only provide shade and fresh air but also offer nourishment and a sustainable source of food for communities.

Whether it's football, tree planting, or making a difference in people's lives, Patrick is all about creating a better, greener, and more caring world one step at a time!

Oliver Bredget Among serves as the Branch Manager at Patapia Microfinance, proudly overseeing operations at the Kyaka II Refugee Settlement Camp. With a robust background in project management, community development, and advocacy for human rights, Oliver is particularly passionate about empowering women and youth. She holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Management from Uganda Christian University and is committed to driving operational excellence while enhancing customer satisfaction at the branch.

Before joining Patapia, Oliver worked as an Officer on the Project for ChildFund International, where she focused on improving the lives of deprived, excluded, and vulnerable children. His dedication to social impact continued at Dwelling Places, where he worked to rescue, rehabilitate, reintegrate, educate, and advocate for street-connected children and abandoned babies, helping them reach their full potential.

At Caritas Kotido, Oliver promoted integral human development by empowering vulnerable communities.

Blessing Muganza is a dedicated Credit Officer at Patapia Microfinance's Kampala Branch, where she plays a crucial role in empowering clients through financial services. As a refugee in Uganda, Blessing brings a unique perspective to her work, driven by her desire to help others navigate their financial journeys.

With a strong background in community support, Blessing previously served as an Assistant Shelter Manager at Amani Sasa, an organization focused on refugee assistance in Kampala. She also held the position of Secretary at the Wamama Amkeni Project in Kampala, where she contributed to initiatives aimed at uplifting women in the community.

In 2023, Blessing expanded her expertise as a facilitator at PAIDEK SA Microfinance, working on the PFP Project in Kalehe, Bukavu. Additionally, she coordinated the Organisation Pour le Développement de la Femme Paysanne (OPDPF), advocating for the development of women farmers.

In her free time, Blessing enjoys watching movies, reading the Bible, and listening to music.

Bikuba Shaban serves as the Lead Credit Officer at the Patapia Microfinance Kampala branch and a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a strong passion for loan guidance, Shaban plays a crucial role in helping individuals and small businesses navigate their financial journeys and access the support they need to succeed.

Prior to joining Patapia in 2020, Shaban worked at Career Path Uganda as a trainer, where he focused on developing skills in liquid soap production, bookmaking, and crafting shoes from 2015 to 2017. His commitment to empowering individuals through training and skill development laid a strong foundation for his work in microfinance.

As a refugee, Shaban understands the unique challenges faced by individuals in similar situations, allowing him to connect with clients on a personal level. He is excited to continue making a positive impact in the lives of those he serves, helping them achieve their financial goals and improve their livelihoods.

Imani Muyora is a loan officer at Patapia Microfinance and a proud refugee in Uganda. Passionate about empowering communities through financial inclusion and development initiatives, she plays a vital role in helping individuals and small businesses access the financial support they need to grow and thrive.

With a strong background in Community Development, specializing in Entrepreneurship and Project Management from ISDR Goma, Imani has committed her career to supporting grassroots initiatives, promoting savings groups, and facilitating financial literacy programs. Her leadership experience includes serving as Chairperson and as Cashier Secretary for two Savings Associations in the Kyaka II refugee settlement in Uganda, both emphasizing her dedication to economic empowerment and sustainability.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Imani has a passion for languages, speaking Swahili, French, English, Lingala, and several regional dialects. She enjoys communicating with people from diverse backgrounds.

Being a refugee herself, Rehema Bahati is a passionate advocate for social impact, dedicated to empowering communities and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups to thrive. Through her work with initiatives like Patapia, she is committed to supporting refugees and women by helping them achieve self-sustainability.

Rehema believes in the power of collaboration, innovation, and economic empowerment to transform lives. She is particularly inspired by projects that equip women with the tools and resources they need to build better futures for themselves and their families. Her vision is rooted in creating lasting, positive change for underserved communities.

Habyarimana serves as a dedicated Field Officer at Patapia, where he works directly with refugee communities to assess needs, implement programs, and monitor progress. With his deep understanding of the challenges faced by refugees, he brings compassion and practical solutions to his role.

His responsibilities include conducting field visits to refugee settlements, gathering data on program effectiveness, and building relationships with community leaders. Habyarimana's work is essential in ensuring that Patapia's services reach those who need them most and are delivered in a culturally sensitive and effective manner.

Prior to joining Patapia, he worked with several humanitarian organizations, gaining valuable experience in community development and refugee support services. His commitment to empowering refugees stems from his belief in the potential of every individual to thrive when given the right opportunities and support.