Cherry Kusemererwa

Cherry Kusemererwa is an accomplished finance and operations professional with over 20 years of experience shaping financial strategy, operational excellence, and organisational growth across the non-profit sector. Her expertise spans development programmes in health, education, and livelihoods, where she has successfully managed complex financial portfolios, strengthened operational systems, and supported the delivery of impactful development initiatives.

Currently serving as Finance and Operations Manager at Riva Uganda, Cherry oversees an annual budget of approximately €1-€1.5 million, leading end-to-end financial management, multi-currency budgeting and forecasting, accounting operations and procurement. 

Throughout her career, Cherry has managed and supported high-value donor-funded projects financed by leading international organisations, including USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, through not-for-profit international development organisations like; Heifer International (East Africa Dairy Development project), World Vision (Supporting Public Sector Workplaces to Expand Action and Responses to HIV/AIDS project), Self Help Africa, and Plan International Uganda. 

Cherry’s commitment to the not-for-profit sector is rooted in her belief that sound financial management and effective operations are powerful enablers of social impact. She is passionate about developing the structures, systems, and processes that allow mission-driven organizations to thrive, scale sustainably, and focus on the people and communities they serve. Her work is guided by a commitment to stewardship, operational excellence, and helping organizations translate resources into meaningful and lasting change.

She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a postgraduate diploma in management from the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Accounting) from Makerere University and is a fully qualified Accountant of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). 

A few highlights

• 20+ years leading project finance and administration in the not-for-profit sector with programming in livelihoods, education, health and WASH sectors
• Finance and operations manager, IRC Riva, providing strategic financial leadership for a €1M–€1.5M annual budget
• Working languages: English, Runyakitara, Luganda