Francisca Ayodeji (Ayo) Akala will take on a big new role — as the World Bank’s Country Manager for Uganda. A proud Nigerian with a strong track record in global health and development, Ayo will now be at the helm of a $4.5 billion portfolio in Uganda, overseeing 18 major projects spanning everything from energy access to refugee support.
But Ayo isn’t new to this kind of responsibility. With more than 25 years of experience in public health, she’s spent her career improving systems that help people live healthier, more dignified lives — especially women, children, and vulnerable communities. She’s led major initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, including in areas affected by conflict and fragility.
Whether tackling malaria, HIV/AIDS, or malnutrition, Ayo has always focused on getting results where they matter most — on the ground. Her expertise blends hands-on program delivery with big-picture policy work. She’s also been a key player in the World Bank’s Human Capital Project, helping countries invest smarter in their people’s wellbeing and future.
In this new chapter, Ayo will not only manage the World Bank’s projects in Uganda, but also work closely with the government to design programs that align with the country’s priorities. Her goal? To help create faster, fairer, and more resilient growth that unlocks better jobs and opportunities for all Ugandans.
“I’m honoured to serve in this role and build on the important work already underway,” she said. “Uganda has incredible potential, and I look forward to partnering with the government and communities to help make that vision a reality.”
Before stepping into this position, Ayo held several leadership roles at the World Bank. Most recently, she served as Practice Manager for Health, Nutrition, and Population across 13 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. She’s also worked in South Asia, the Middle East, and Western and Central Africa.
Ayo is a trained medical doctor with a degree from the University of Ibadan, and holds two master’s degrees: one in public health from the University of Lagos, and another in health services management from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
She will be based in Kampala, where she takes over from Mukami Kariuki, who just wrapped up her four-year term.
