SITU

Directors

SITU’s board of directors brings together Africa’s leading thinkers in urban design, development finance, and institutional leadership to guide the organisation’s strategy and governance.

  • Portrait of Mokena Makeka
    Mokena Makeka is a distinguished architect, urbanist, and spatial strategist regarded as one of Africa’s foremost design thinkers. He is the Founding Principal of Makeka Design Lab, a practice renowned for its work at the intersection of architecture, urban design, and African spatial justice.
    His career spans landmark public infrastructure, city planning frameworks, and policy advisory across South Africa and the continent — including contributions to post-apartheid spatial transformation, heritage projects, and inclusive urban development.
    At SITU, Mokena brings his expertise in spatial infrastructure, systems thinking, and African institutional design to guide the organisation’s long-range strategic positioning and initiative architecture.

    Areas of expertise

    • Urban Design & Architecture
    • Spatial Justice
    • African City Systems
    • Policy Advisory
    • Public Infrastructure
  • Portrait of CJ Fonzi
    CJ Fonzi is a strategist and development finance specialist with extensive experience in impact investing, blended finance, and institution-building across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked with leading development finance institutions, foundations, and private sector actors to structure capital for systemic change.
    His career is defined by a disciplined focus on mobilising resources into African-led solutions — not just funding projects, but building the financial architectures that allow initiatives to achieve independence and scale.
    On SITU’s board, CJ provides critical oversight on capital strategy, governance, and the long-term financial sustainability of SITU’s incubation portfolio.

    Areas of expertise

    • Development Finance
    • Blended Finance
    • Impact Investing
    • Capital Strategy
    • Governance
  • Portrait of Steve Kisakye
    Steve Kisakye is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and civil society leader with deep roots in East African business and governance. He brings more than two decades of experience in organisational leadership, board governance, and scaling institutions across Uganda and the broader Great Lakes region.
    Steve has held senior roles across the private sector and international development, contributing to initiatives spanning financial inclusion, health systems, youth development, and economic policy reform.
    His presence on SITU’s board grounds the organisation in the realities of East African institutional landscapes and ensures that SITU’s strategies remain responsive to the communities and leaders closest to the work.

    Areas of expertise

    • Organisational Leadership
    • Board Governance
    • East African Markets
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Civil Society