Ugandan tech entrepreneur, Ham Serunjogi, has been appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. The Council’s establishment was announced by Vice President Harris during the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration between U.S. officials and the African Diaspora.
The African Diaspora in the United States comprises a diverse community, including African Americans and African immigrants. This community, which includes descendants of enslaved Black Americans, has historically advocated for Africa’s prosperity and played a crucial role in strengthening the bond between the United States and Africa.
The Advisory Council, as outlined in Executive Order 14089, consists of up to 12 members representing the diversity of the African Diaspora from African American communities across the U.S. and African immigrant communities worldwide, including the Caribbean. These members, hailing from various fields such as government, sports, creative industries, business, academia, social work, and faith-based activities, will provide essential guidance to enhance cultural, social, political, and economic ties between the U.S. and Africa. They aim to promote trade, investment, and educational exchanges between the two regions.
Rev. Dr. Silvester Scott Beaman, with his extensive experience and strong connections to Africa, has been appointed as the Chair of the Council. His leadership is expected to steer the Council towards realizing its full potential.
Among the distinguished members of the Council for the 2023-2025 term is Ham Serunjogi, the Co-founder & CEO of Chipper Cash, a prominent African fintech company. Under his leadership, Chipper Cash has raised substantial venture capital funding, propelling the company’s valuation to over $2 billion, making it one of Africa’s most valuable startups. Ham Serunjogi’s journey started at Grinnell College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 2016. He later worked at Meta (formerly Facebook), managing relationships with top advertisers.
Ham Serunjogi’s accomplishments extend to academia, as he currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Grinnell College, his alma mater. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Social Studies during the college’s commencement. A former competitive swimmer, he represented Uganda in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
Ham Serunjogi’s remarkable achievements continue to gain recognition, as he was recently named to the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, highlighting his contribution to the finance category. He is based at Chipper’s global headquarters in San Francisco, California.
Here’s the list of all the council members.
• Silvester Scott Beaman of Delaware, Chair
• Mimi E. Alemayehou of Washington, D.C., Member
• Rosalind Brewer of Georgia, Member
• Viola Davis of Rhode Island, Member
• Helene D. Gayle of Georgia, Member
• Patrick Hubert Gaspard of New York, Member
• C.D. Glin of Connecticut, Member
• Osagie Imasogie of Pennsylvania, Member
• Almaz Negash of California, Member
• Chinenye Joy Ogwumike of Texas, Member
• Ham K. Serunjogi of California, Member
• Kevin Young of Washington, D.C., Member
