Dr. Kalema

William Kalema

Chairman - BDO East Africa

Deal Advisory | Corporate Recovery | Risk Advisory

Agribusiness, Floriculture and Fisheries | Manufacturing & Distribution | Financial Services | Not for Profit, Gov't & Public Sector | Natural Resources & Energy | Infrastructure, Real Estate & Construction, Transport & Logistics

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Executive summary

Dr. Kalema, Chairman of BDO in East Africa, is a seasoned consultant to businesses, government bodies, and development agencies, with a career spanning back to 1992. Actively shaping Uganda’s private sector, he has served on the boards of major institutions like the Bank of Uganda, DFCU Bank, and the Uganda Investment Authority, and has contributed significantly to Uganda’s economic growth through his role with the Uganda Manufacturers Association.

Dr. Kalema holds influential roles beyond board representation. As a Trustee of the Shell Foundation and Chair of the Uganda Gatsby Trust, he champions projects in agriculture and education. He was a key figure in the formation of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda and provided guidance for similar bodies in Rwanda and Tanzania. With degrees in chemical engineering from Cambridge and a Ph.D. from Caltech, Dr. Kalema brings a strong technical and strategic perspective. He also contributes to agricultural finance as Director of several funds in East Africa, helping raise over US$ 142 million in support of agribusinesses across the region.