East African Mental Health Summit 2026

Policy Advisor on the Presidential Advisory on Mental Health
Chiromo Hospital Group, 37 Muthangari Road, Suite 205,
Nairobi, Kenya

Bio

Dr Priscilla Makau is a Consultant Psychiatrist at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, Division of Mental Health, and President of the Kenya Psychiatric Association. She has over 12 years of medical experience with more than 9 years in the mental health field. Her expertise spans clinical psychiatry, mental health policy, advocacy, and health systems strengthening. She was the team lead in the development of Kenya’s National Clinical Guidelines for Management of Common Mental Disorders, supporting integration of mental health into primary healthcare. She has served as Technical Assistant to the Presidential Advisor on Mental Health and Secretariat to the National Taskforce on Mental Health.

National Manager of Mental Health & Substance Use Section
Chair of MHPSS-TWG
Ministry of Health & Human Services- Federal Government of Somalia

Bio

Zeynab Ahmed Noor is the National Manager for Mental Health and Substance Use at Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Health and Chair of the National MHPSS Technical Working Group. With over a decade of expertise in mental health, public health, and emergency response, she leads nationwide efforts to advance MHPSS governance, policy, and service integration. She works closely with government institutions, UN agencies, and international partners to expand rights-based care for crisis-affected populations. A pioneer in research linking youth, mental health, and peacebuilding, she actively drives emergency response and capacity building for frontline workers across Somalia.

Quote

“Mental health is fundamental to resilient communities, better health, and sustainable development. By strengthening regional collaboration and investing in accessible, community-based, rights-based mental health systems, East Africa can build healthier, more inclusive, and resilient communities where no one faces mental health challenges alone.”

Director of the National Mental Health Program, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Director of the National Mental Health Program in the DRC.

Public Mental Health Expert.

Focal Point for the sub-regional Master’s program in Field Epidemiology and Mental Health (FETP-SM) for Francophone Central Africa, co-organized by the Kinshasa School of Public Health, AFENET, Africa CDC, and Wellcome.

Holder of two Master’s degrees:

1. Community Health (MPH)

2. Governance and Diplomacy (MBA)

And a trainer certification in Gender, Equity, and Human Rights (WHO Africa).

Director of various departments and specialized programs within the Ministry of Public Health since 2017, notably in the areas of substance abuse control, public hygiene and sanitation, and neglected tropical diseases.

Researcher and associate trainer at the Kinshasa School of Public Health/University of Kinshasa.

Expert and consultant in policy and strategy development.

Regional trainer for the Public Mental Health Leadership Program (Africa CDC/African Union).

Minister of Health and Human Services, Federal Republic of Somalia
MD (Internal Medicine) | MPH (Public Health)

Bio

Hon. Dr. Ali Haji Adam Abubakar is the Minister of Health and Human Services of the Federal Republic of Somalia, a physician, legislator, and reform-minded public-health leader recognized for revitalizing Somalia’s health system and elevating the country’s role in global health diplomacy.

Dr. Ali Haji Adam holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Science and Technology, Sana’a (Yemen), and a master’s degree in Internal Medicine from Benadir University, Mogadishu. With more than fifteen years of service across clinical medicine, public-health programming, and governance, he has been central to Somalia’s health-sector transformation.

Elected as a Member of the Federal Parliament in February 2022, he was appointed Minister of Health in August 2022. Since assuming office, he has driven reforms in universal health coverage, maternal and child health, emergency preparedness, and non-communicable disease prevention.

Public Health Specialist Physician

Head of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Division, National Mental Health Program (DRC)

Lead, National MHPSS Technical Working Group (DRC)

Burundian physician, son of Isidore Kaburente and Frédérique Mperabanyanka; Born in 1979 in Kirangara (Buhumuza Province, Butaganzwa Commune); Holds a Doctorate in General Medicine from the University of Burundi (awarded in 2016); Possesses professional experience in clinical medicine, health service management, and public health, with a particular focus on mental health and psychosocial support; Served as Hospital Medical Director (since 2016) and Medical Director for Ruyigi Health Province (since 2020) prior to joining the National Program for the Control of Non-Communicable Diseases; Since 2024, Head of the Mental Health Department, with responsibilities including coordination, planning, supervision, and the integration of mental health services into primary health care; National trainer in mental health using the mhGAP approach (since 2024); Regional trainer on integrating mental health and psychosocial support into peacebuilding initiatives; Experienced in professional training and capacity building, as well as in research and the coordination of national mental health studies; Has participated in numerous expert meetings and training activities at national, regional, and international levels, particularly in the fields of mental health, psychosocial support, sexual and gender-based violence, and peacebuilding.

Paul Rumanda Rugambwa is an accomplished Management Executive and Global Remuneration Professional, certified by WorldatWork (USA), with over 20 years of progressive, diverse experience across Uganda, East Africa, and Southern Africa. My career reflects a consistent record of transformative leadership, strategic impact, and operational excellence across purpose-driven organizations, including the non-profit, health, automotive, and telecommunications sectors.

I currently serve as Human Resources Director at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. I am the President of the Human Resource Managers’ Association of Uganda, providing stewardship to the HR profession at a national level.

Beyond my executive role, I contribute to governance and strategic oversight as a Member of the Board Audit & Risk Committee at ICEA Lion Life (Uganda), a Board Member of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Uganda, and a Board Member of ISPI Africa. I am also a Trustee of the Enwealth Uganda Umbrella Retirement Scheme and Chair of the Board of Nakawa Backyard Farmers SACCO.

Throughout my career, I have held senior leadership positions with distinguished organizations, including International Medical Group (now C-Care), Toyota Uganda Limited (now CFAO Motors Uganda), and Toyota Tsusho Africa (Pty) Ltd, in South Africa. These roles have honed my ability to align people strategy with organizational goals, driving excellence across complex and diverse environments.

A strong advocate for organizational transformation and purposeful leadership, my expertise encompasses:

• Strategic Planning, Development, and Execution
• Total Rewards and Global Mobility / Expatriate Management
• Risk, Assurance, and Financial Oversight
• Strategic Human Resource Management and Talent Development
• Operational Efficiency and Process Optimization
• Legal and Compliance Management in Employee Relations
• Environmental Health, Safety, and People-Centered Sustainability

I hold an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh), a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and Development from Uganda Management Institute, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Sciences from Makerere University.

Specialized certifications reinforce my professional development in:

• Total Rewards and Compensation – WorldatWork, USA
• Strategic Business Partnering – Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town
• HR Business Partnering – Deloitte South Africa
• SAMTRAC – NOSA South Africa
• Leadership Development – Tsusho Africa and Tencho Leadership Programs

I am driven by a profound belief in the power of human potential and deeply passionate about cultivating environments where people thrive and organizations achieve sustainable success, guided by the enduring principles of People, Planet, and Profit.

He is a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Deputy Executive Director at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, and an honorary lecturer at the School of Public Health, Makerere University in Uganda . He is also a co-founder and technical director at YouBelong Uganda (www.youbelongCommunity.org), a community-based NGO in Uganda working to transition institutionalized and /or abandoned individuals living with severe mental disorders back to their families and communities.

His research interest is developing public mental health initiatives that can sustainably be implemented in low resource settings.

She is a public mental health specialist and health systems leader with over 17 years of experience in public health and mental health systems strengthening. She Has served as the Head of the Mental Health Program at Nairobi City County, where she successfully led the expansion of mental health services from 3 to 36 clinics, spearheaded the development of the county’s first mental health data dashboard, and supported the development and launch of the Nairobi City County Mental Health Strategic Action Plan 2025–2030. 

She has extensive experience working with government, development partners, and academic institutions to strengthen mental health systems and integrate mental health into primary health care. Stella is also a certified WHO mhGAP-IG Master Trainer and has trained thousands healthcare workers across East Africa. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Public Mental Health and a Master of Health Psychology

Hon Faisal is a prolific, well-known intellectual who provides cogent, critical political analysis on the Horn of Africa, Somali politics, history, and society. He has particularly written on urbanism, the center vs. periphery issue, and the origins of Somalia’s new Federal arrangement. He is a founding member of one of the most respected Somali websites (www.wardheernews.com). He also serves as a contributing editor for the academic journal The Horn of Africa Journal and regularly participates in a yearly roundtable, “Ruminations and Reflections on The Horn of Africa,” at the African Studies Association (ASA). Before that, he was a contributing editor of the Ethiopian Review. Faisal’s publications include a book, “Looking Backward and Looking Forward: The Ogaden Region in the 21st Century, 2011 (ed.); He is also working on a book on “State Construction, Conflicts, and Collective Punishments. His articles include “Local and Global Norms: Challenges to Somaliland’s Unilateral Secession,” Horn of Africa Journal, Volume XXIV, “The Culture of Politics: The Somali Experience,” Horn of Africa Journal, Volume XXV, and “Challenges to the Reconstruction of the Somalia State: From a Unitary to a Federal Polity.” 

With over 35 years of experience in urban and Regional Planning with the City of Los Angeles, where he served as CEO for Planning, Inclusion, and Equity in his last position, Faisal joined the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in October 2025, representing the Somali Federal Government. He is also a commissioner at EALA.

Hon Adeng is the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare of the Republic of South Sudan. She is a gender equality, human rights and development practitioner with extensive experience in public service, peacebuilding, women’s empowerment, civic engagement and social protection.

Prior to her appointment as Undersecretary, Hon. Adeng served in senior leadership and programmes management roles with national and international organizations, including Nonviolent Peaceforce South Sudan, the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network.

Hon. Adeng holds a bachelor’s degree in history, Economics and Political Science from Christ University, India, and postgraduate qualifications in Project Management from the University of Essex, United Kingdom. She also holds a master’s degree in Human Rights from the University of Sussex as a Chevening Scholar.

Her work is grounded in advancing inclusive governance, gender equality, human rights, peace and social well-being, with a particular interest in ensuring that vulnerable groups, women and young people have meaningful access to protection, services and opportunities.

Chief Executive Officer; Head of Strategy, COG EA Ltd
Board Chairperson, StrongMinds Kenya
Board Member, StrongMinds Uganda

Paul Mwirigi Muriungi is an East African communications and business leader with more than 17 years of experience spanning strategic communications, corporate reputation, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and organizational leadership across Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. He is the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Strategy at COG EA Ltd, public relations, digital, creative and advertising consultancy. Paul brings extensive board and non-profit leadership experience, including his role as Board Chairperson of StrongMinds Kenya and board leadership with StrongMinds Uganda, where his work has included advocacy, policy and communications. He also serves on the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce Uganda and has held leadership roles with the Public Relations Society of Kenya and the Financial Technologies Service Providers Association.

His wider development-sector experience includes communications and training engagements with organizations including USAID, the World Bank, IUCEA, RUFORUM and the Ministry of Health. His leadership work combines strategic communications with advocacy, policy engagement, stakeholder relations, reputation management and organizational development. Paul is a strong advocate for the role of communication in shaping organizations, communities and public conversations.

At the 2nd Annual East African Mental Health Summit, Paul will contribute a private sector

perspective to the discussion on making mental health a private-sector priority. He will examine the role businesses can play in closing the mental health gap across East Africa and consider where mental health belongs within the ESG agenda, corporate decision-making and responsible business Practice.

He is a physician and has served as Director of the National Program for the Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (PNMNT) in Burundi since January 2026. With over 15 years of experience in the public health system, he has held positions as Chief Medical Officer for the Nyabikere Health District (2010–2016), Medical Director for the Karusi Health Province, and medical consultant at the Buhiga District Hospital. His expertise focuses on integrating mental health care into chronic disease management and primary health care in East Africa.