About Pacem Havens Foundation

What We Do

Pacem Havens Foundation is the brainchild of a formerly incarcerated individual, which he conceived while preparing for release. It started its initial activities as a loose organisation in 2019. In September 2022, after a series of interventions among his fellow Formerly Incarcerated Persons (FIPs) and contributing to actions to ease in some way the life of those still in prions, Pacem Havens Foundation became legally registered as a non-profit organisation with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registration No. 80020003824638. In April 2024, the foundation received NGO certification and permit. The foundation targets those who have been in prison for long and may have lost touch with the outside world.

Our Values

Second chance

We believe in the inherent possibility of every Formerly Incarcerated Person as a human being to reform and transform their lives. We treat every Formerly Incarcerated Person with courtesy, dignity, and grace regardless of their background or personal history.

Collaboration

We work with other stakeholders as partners to support mutual understanding of ideas and open exploration of options.

Accountability

We believe that without accountability and relationships built on trust, transformation will not take place. We therefore commit effort, time and resources to those who demonstrate the desire to change their lives.

Our Team: Dedicated to guidance, dignity and transformation

Pacem Havens is led by a committed team of mentors, counselors and support staff who believe in second chances. Our work is grounded in compassion, accountability and long-term support for individuals rebuilding their lives.

Cris Rwakasisi
Chairman
Cris is an ex-prisoner who is currently a Presidential Advisor. He devotes his time providing moral and spiritual support to other ex-offenders who are willing to turn their life around. He advises on strategic linkages and guides strategic thinking on prisons and prisoners.
Shadrack Magara
Founding Director Programs Lead
As the Founding Director, Shadrack provides advisory on the vision and strategy, and guides on program direction. He also brings with him critical linkages with the prison service, prisoners, and ex-offenders. Shad also takes lead on activities of curbing youth delinquency.
Susan R. Lugemwa
Treasurer
With experience spanning over 20 years of working with Development Partner Agencies, Susan is both the treasurer and advisor on donor relations on the Board.
Alice Mwebaza
Company Secretary
Alice is a Legal Aid & Gender Justice Expert. With this wide ranging experience Alice brings the advantage of being both an Advocate of the High Court and an NGO practitioner. She has experience providing legal aid to indigents especially widows and orphans. She is also the Legal Advisor for the Foundation
Ssanyu Rebecca
Executive Director
Ssanyu has academic background in public policy and research on correctional rehabilitation. She possesses close to 30 years’ working experience with Non-Government Organisations and Think Tanks, and is competent in program design, management, and evaluation, as well as fundraising. She has also been an advisor to several government programs and processes in the area of public policy design and program implementation. As seasoned social researcher, several publications have emerged out of her work. As Executive Director, Ssanyu represents the interests of the Foundation’s staff on the Board.
Eleanor Mirembe
Finance and Admin Lead
Eleanor is a Finance and Accounting professional with more than 20 years’ experience in management. She has worked in different sections of different banks, undertaking responsibilities including in charge of the Finance, Treasury, Human resources and Administration functions. She currently serves as our head of Finance and Administration functions.
Quincy Henry Muhimbura
Strategic Partnerships
Both a mechanical engineer and development professional, Quincy has a strong background in operations, strategy, and partnerships. Having worked in construction, supply, and renewable energy, he brings a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainable enterprise development. He is our Director for strategic partnerships.