Biography

Brian Mushana Kwesiga is a Ugandan-born entrepreneur, engineer, and civic leader. He works at the intersection of business, technology, policy, and diplomacy, helping expand Africa's influence globally.

Through his work, Brian Kwesiga mobilizes the diaspora, strengthens trade ties, applying systems-level thinking to governance and institutional reform. He believes that Africa's global ascent depends on "trade, not aid." With the diaspora is the bridge linking investment, innovation, and impact.

Founder & CEO - The eHub Group, LLC.

He is the Founder, Principal, and Chief Executive Officer of The eHub Group, a U.S.-based import-export and diaspora enterprise. The company champions premium African-made products in North America, starting with the award-winning Uganda Waragi. The triple-distilled gin produced by Uganda Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo.

This initiative positions African heritage brands competitively within the global market, transforming informal trade into structured, transparent, and scalable commerce. Kwesiga leverages diaspora networks, technology, and strategic partnerships to help African enterprises gain a stronger foothold in international markets.

Policy, Strategy, and Thought Leadership

In 2024–2025, Kwesiga was selected as an Africa Policy Accelerator Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.

One of the world’s leading think tanks on international affairs, he contributed to high-level policy discussions and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa’s integration into the global economy.

A recognized thought leader, Kwesiga's articles and commentaries have appeared in New Vision, Daily Monitor. His portfolio of writing ranges from diaspora engagement, trade policy, governance reform, national diaspora policy reforms, diaspora rights, and identity to national development.

His thought leadership has shaped public discourse on how the African diaspora can be a powerful engine for economic transformation.

Transforming UNAA - Leadership

On September 1, 2013, at 26, Kwesiga was elected the youngest-ever President & CEO of the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA). UNAA is the largest and oldest formal organization of Ugandans abroad. He chaired the convention organizing committee as it celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding in 1988.

His tenure is widely regarded as one of the most reform-driven in the association's history. He presided over an era of unprecedented growth. setting new records. Membership tripled, and corporate sponsorships increased by more than 335%.

Government support increased fivefold, from $20,000 to $100,000 annually, following direct negotiations with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during his visit to Dallas, Texas in September 2014. President Museveni also committed to opening up a diaspora desk at State House.

As UNAA President, Kwesiga established the $50,000 annual fund Chapter Development Program, the Professional Interest Networks (PINs), and the Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program, and the Community Outreach Initiative (COI) to promote professional and youth development.

Kwesiga's administration achieved three consecutive balanced budgets and the first-ever quarterly financial reports and released the annual reports ahead of schedule. He appointed a new Board of Trustees, which oversaw the first independent financial audit in UNAA’s history.

Kwesiga's tenure successfully transitioned UNAA’s payments from Western Union/MoneyGram transfers to official institutional bank accounts. This was a major step in transparency and created cost-saving for members.

Broader Diaspora Engagement

Beyond these institutional reforms, Kwesiga's tenure also delivered tangible policy reforms for all Ugandans abroad.

He personally lobbied President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for dual citizenship and visa fees to be reduced by 50 percent, making it easier and more affordable for the diaspora to maintain strong ties with their homeland. He coordinated with the National Identity and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) to deliver on-site National ID and dual-citizenship services abroad.

These reforms revitalized UNAA’s reputation, strengthened its governance and financial stability, and reshaped government–diaspora relations. This re-positioned diaspora engagement as a central pillar of Uganda's statecraft.

In 2013, the Speaker of Parliament established a diaspora desk at Parliament, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ diaspora desk was upgraded into a fully-fledged Diaspora Services Department.

The Government of Uganda released its first-ever National Diaspora Policy during Kwesiga’s tenure as UNAA President & CEO, a milestone he had long championed. He remains a vocal supporter of granting Ugandans abroad the right to vote as well as political representation and inclusion.

Aerospace & Defense Career

Before founding the eHub Group, Kwesiga built a 15-year career in the aerospace and defense industry. He held technical and program management roles with Fortune 100 powerhouses, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies, at the frontier of innovation.

He rose to the level of Deputy Program Manager, leading multimillion-dollar programs in software development, flight testing, and systems integration. Kwesiga's hands-on experience honed the analytical mindset he now applies to business strategy, governance, and public policy.

Academics & Global Perspective

Beyond his engineering career, Kwesiga holds a Master’s in Global Business Administration from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. While at Tufts, he was inducted into the Honos Civicus Society in 2025 for civic leadership. In a week-long immersion in Athens, Greece, he explored “Resilience and Innovation in the Face of Crisis.”

Kwesiga also earned three degrees from Southern Methodist University (SMU), in Dallas, Texas; a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.

While at SMU, he studied in São Paulo, Brazil, for six months. He was a fellow in a pioneering leadership program exploring the theme, "Cross-Cultural Engineering: Manufacturing for Global Security." 

He learned Brazilian Portuguese, practiced cross-cultural teamwork, and studied global manufacturing systems.

Kwesiga began his academic journey at Dallas College – Brookhaven Campus, where he earned an Associate of Science in Mathematics. He was later recognized with the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Sports and Cultural Diplomacy

Beyond business and policy, Brian Kwesiga has championed sports as a platform for cultural diplomacy.

In 2023, Kwesiga became the first native Ugandan to serve as General Manager of the Uganda Lacrosse Men’s National Team. Within four months, he mobilized over $160,000, enabling Uganda to participate as the sole African nation at the World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego, California.

He has served on the boards of DFW International Community Alliance,  Eastern Africa Diaspora Business Council (EADBC), East Africa Chamber of Commerce (EACC), now the East Africa Business Network (EABN). He has been recognized for broader civic engagement including being awarded the 2009 Outstanding Student Leadership Award from the DFW International Community Alliance.

A Lifetime Member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), he previously served as Vice Chair of NSBE’s International Committee, where he helped establish the first chapters in Eastern and Central Africa. He served as the SMU Chapter President.

A Journey of Resilience and Purpose

Brian Mushana Kwesiga was born in Rujumbura County, Rukungiri District, Southwestern Uganda into a family dedicated to public service. His father, the late James Kwesiga, served as a District Health Inspector, and his mother, the late Rosemary Tindiwensi, was a District Health Educator. His maternal grandfather served as a Gomborora Chief, and an uncle of his paternal grandfather was a Gomborora Chief.

After losing both parents at a young age, he moved to the United States at 15 to continue his education. Over the next two decades, he built a transcontinental career spanning engineering, policy, business, and civic leadership.

Today, Brian Mushana Kwesiga continues to shape conversations at the intersection of technology, trade, and diplomacy, bridging continents and communities. His life’s work embodies resilience, vision, and an enduring commitment to global collaboration.

In his personal time, he enjoys writing, reading, debating, and playing chess.