Menu

Board Members


James T. Hurd
Chair/President

Since 2001, James T. Hurd has served as the pastor of Parkwood Presbyterian Church, Ottawa. Part of his ministry among the congregation has been to embrace and support the mission of CanHave. CanHave had its origins among the ministry of Parkwood Church, and many members, adherents, and friends of the congregation have contributed time, talent, and treasure to CanHave throughout the years. James has assisted the board of directors in various roles, and the organization in a number of different ways. His aim is to help all who are connected with CanHave to focus on the orphaned children in Uganda and to assist them to gain the education and life skills necessary for their present and future well-being. He is convinced that as we do so, all of us in turn will be enriched through the experiences and successes of the children.


Terence McBurney
Vice-President & Treasurer

Terry McBurney is a retired senior health services executive with over 35 years of experience in planning and executive management of acute care, cancer care, long-term care and community services in three Canadian provinces, and in consulting in the health and social services fields in Canada, Brazil and the Middle East. He has been involved in major organizational change projects including new facility start-ups, organization expansions and restructuring, and organization downsizing. This has included extensive involvement with unionized work forces and negotiation of contracts at the local and provincial levels.
 
Terry has worked in and with large medium and small organizations; he believes firmly that the strength of an organization is not determined by its size but by the knowledge and commitment of its staff members at all levels to the mission and values of the organization.


Alexander (Sandy) Davidson
Director

Sandy Davidson retired in 2017, after 33 years as the main Department of Justice adviser to the Canada Revenue Agency’s Charities Directorate. Sandy has volunteer experience with several charity boards, 16 years of prison visitation, St. John Ambulance first aid duties, and 9 short term international infrastructure and medical mission trips.


Mukhtar Rahemtulla
Director

Mukhtar Rahemtulla is the CEO of ERS Scale Inc., a web-based company providing services to the employment agencies in several countries. He was the co-founder and CEO of Autovision Wireless Inc – a company he formed by acquiring the assets of Bell Canada Fleet Technology and successfully grew it into a multi-million profitable business. Since 2013, Mr. Rahemtulla has been providing executive consulting services to Smart Telecom – an Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Corporation in East Africa from 2014 to 2016; and to other corporations in Canada including Computrol in Vancouver and Nepean Hearing Clinic in Ottawa. He was born in Uganda and came to Canada as a UN refugee at the age of 18. He received his early education from the Aga Khan School in Uganda and the Royal University of Malta. He has a BASc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, both from the University of British Columbia. His extensive community service includes supporting non-profit organizations working in various parts of the world. He is also a board member of the International Development & Relief Foundation. He is an avid hiker, jogger, squash and tennis player.


Caroline Nakayenga
Honorary Life Member of CANHAVE and the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees Uganda

Caroline is a nurse working with Hospice Care Ottawa, Maycourt location. Also, as a footcare nurse, Caroline reaches seniors and persons with developmental disabilities in the Ottawa community.  In 1994, Caroline visited Uganda and met a dying woman who had five children who would be left homeless and uncared for on her death. Caroline promised to help, returning to Canada to ask for help with the AIDS orphans. This was the beginning of CANHAVE, a small Ottawa-based NGO. Caroline has worked unceasingly to help bring education to the neediest, one child at a time.  Caroline assists newcomers to find their places, to settle in their new country. She is a welcome face in the shelters. She has volunteered with the Police, helping abused women. Her community work also includes bringing many people to their medical appointments. Caroline is a member of a telephone chain, keeping seniors healthy.


Dr. Grete Hale [Deceased October 28, 2022]
Honorary Life Member of CANHAVE and the Board of Directors

Grete Hale was Chairman Emeritus of one of Ottawa’s oldest businesses – Morrison Lamothe Inc., formerly a baking and catering company, now a private label national frozen food company started by her father in 1933. She graduated in Journalism from Carleton University in 1954 and held directorships with numerous organizations such as Consumer Gas and North American Life. She also served on a number of federal advisory groups. Recognized as one of Ottawa’s leading and most committed citizens, Grete was an active humanitarian. Her work in the community and in the board room garnered her numerous awards and honours, including the Order of Canada, Senator in the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, Woman of Distinction-Mayor of Ottawa’s Award for Community Service, YM-YWCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ottawa-Carleton Philanthropy Award, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award-Lifetime Achievement Category, Ottawa Community Builder of the Year Award, and honourary doctorates from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

 

Ugandan Board

Board Of Trustees

cropped-logo-global.png
Dr. Paito Obote
Chair

Mr. Paito Obote is the Chair of the CANHAVE Board of Trustees, Uganda. Paito came to us through WATERCAN; he was recommended for the contract to build the well at the Vocational School site in Kisubi. Following the installation of the well, Paito designed a water filtration system for the school. He then acted as supervisor of the building of The Elizabeth Residence He was able to get the job done in time with completely fair terms.

Paito is known for his total honesty and transparency in all his dealings. He is efficient and accountable in his direction of CANHAVE Uganda and his advice and assistance with the development of the Vocational School.

As Chair of Board, Paito oversees all accounts, site issues and projects for both the Children’s Program and the Vocational School.Program.

Originally from northern Uganda, Paito is a member of the Acholi tribe. He became an engineer at St. Joseph College Labiyi. He is currently living in Entebbe with frequent journeys to his home in the north. He travels also to assess water projects in other parts of East Africa and the Horn. Paito is recognized in all his associations as an extremely grounded human being with a fine mind. He is a strategic thinker with strong values.

CANHAVE is very privileged to have Paito Obote as the head of the Board of Trustees in Uganda.  Paito is highly respected both locally and internationally, because he has gained respect professionally and personally in his other responsibilities as water engineer, consultant and pragmatist. His skills are invaluable and his dedication to CANHAVE exceptional..

“Paito is a visionary and a doer.  He is driving the CANHAVE programs to real success.”


Ms. Christine Nalugwa
Treasurer

Mrs. Christine Nalugwa is the Treasurer of CANHAVE Uganda and sits on the board of trustees with Mr. Patio Obote, Mrs. Catherine Turibamwe, and Ms. Caroline Nakayenga. She is a social worker by profession and is the mother of five children.

Christine came to know CANHAVE in Uganda by first accompanying her daughter to Canada to begin studies at the University of Ottawa. Christine got in touch with her old friend Caroline Nakayenga and the rest as we say is history.

When Christine returned to Uganda, she agreed to offer her experience, talent and time to CANHAVE because she knows the importance of the cause. Orphans are left to fend for themselves and have no one to care for them CANHAVE offers educational support and personal care given by Ugandan volunteers.
Christine owns a large firm and has a busy schedule. However, she has been treasurer since 2012 and in her spare time she visits the Vocational School and counsels the students.

“I have personally benefitted from supporting CANHAVE in an intrinsic kind of way. It gives me joy to see the lives of young men and women transformed in the space of two years, as they are able to acquire lifelong skills that will help them earn an honest living.

CANHAVE is very grateful to Christine for her contributions to CANHAVE. She encourages other volunteers to take up the mantle and lend a hand where possible to bring change to the life of another person. “The single-minded approach of volunteers in Canada and Uganda to help transform lives of young people is what makes CANHAVE work”, says Christine, as she expresses her gratitude of being involved.


Mrs. Catherine Turibamwe

Mrs. Catherine Turibamwe joined the Board of Trustees in Uganda, in 2023.  She holds a Master’s degree in Accounts, Finance, and Business. From 2010-2018, she served as Manager of a private students’ hostel in Kisumbi, Uganda. From 2017-2019 she was a Lecturer at the University of Kisubi. Since 2019 she has been in private business, providing Catering Services and Events Management.

She volunteered with the CANHAVE vocational school from 2012 to 2018 as a scout for recruiting students from the central region of Uganda, utilising her connection with St. Elizabeth Secondary School in Mityana district.

Board of Directors – Children’s Program

Dorothy Mitala

Chair

Douglas Kasumba

Treasurer

Teo Kassajji

Member

Joseph Kabali

Administrator (ex-officio)