Paying Tribute To The Master of Corporate Governance – Jackson McPeace Jurua

The apiculture sector on Saturday 13 th June 2024 woke up to the sad news of the passing of a sector leader, Mr. Jackson Jurua McPeace-“Chairman” as the sector fondly called him. Jackson was the CEO of Arua Market Women Honey Traders Association and also previously served as the Vice President of the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFE). He served as TUNADO Chairman at a time when the sector and the umbrella organisation, TUNADO was undergoing a period of great turmoil-in fighting, no funds for service delivery, no staff, no sense of direction, non-functioning sector, no place to call home and above all no committed membership. During his tenure as TUNADO Chairman, he led the organisation to achieve the
following milestones:


• TUNADO was established in 2003 and he became the board chairperson in 2008. At the time of taking leadership, TUNADO had only held only one AGM.  When he was elected the chairperson of the board he ensured that going forward, TUNADO holds annual general meetings which restored the power and ownership to membership, confidence, and faith in the organisation
• He spearheaded the inception of apiculture multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs, 2008), space created for all apiculture stakeholders to meet and deliberate on pertinent issues affecting the sector and chart a way forward that is agreeable to all. This enabled even the sector actors that would otherwise never sit together to start planning together on issues that affect the sector. What he called helicopter view on the sector.
• As a result of his tireless efforts in the apiculture MSPs, the national honey week (2009) was born to provide a platform for all sector players to showcase their products, interact with customers, network and get feedback on their products. This created appreciation of Ugandan bee products and hence creating market that became an incentive for increasing production a term he called “market pull approach”.
• In 2012, he oversaw the drafting of the first TUNADO strategic plan 2012-2016. This gave TUNADO a sense and clarity of direction. As a result, the institution gained the confidence to start approaching development partners. It is after this that partners like Trias, Oxfam, Swiss Contact and ZOA started working with TUNADO. Before this, TUNADO only had Bees for Development as a partner.
• In 2012, he also led TUNADO to develop policy documents such as the financial manual, human resource manual, procurement manual. The presence of these policy documents was the start of cooperate governance at TUNADO. It defined and separated the roles and responsibilities of the board and management and hence played a key role in securing funds that enabled TUNADO to deliver its mandate.
• He led the renewal of TUNADO’s MOU with Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries. This built relationship with Government and gave TUNADO an identity and mandate as  a coordinator of the apiculture sector in Uganda.
• In 2010 he lobbied for an office for TUNADO from government and as a result, MAAIF allocated TUNADO office space on Plot 76 Buganda Road until 2018.
• In 2011 he ensured that TUNADO recruited sufficient and competent staff, up from 2 full time staff with appointment of substantive executive Director
• In 2012 he led the review of TUNADO articles and memorandum of association to streamline management and leadership of the institution.
• He understood the power of belonging to networks. it is during his tenure that TUNADO started subscribing to Apimondia (2013) -the world federation for beekeepers, Apitrade Africa, PSFU (2012), Uganda National Farmers’ Federation. It is knowledge and partnerships acquired from these networks that has propelled TUNADO to being a centre of excellence in apiculture in Uganda.
• In 2016 he spearheaded the opening of World of Bees, TUNADO business wing to solve sector players’ biggest obstacles to growth i.e. access to market and access to tailored financing.
• His strong desire to see beekeeping with a place to call home, crowned his 10-year leadership with procuring 2 acres of land in Ddundu, Gayaza road where TUNADO home and a beekeeping export hub is being built.
• He strongly believed in scientists and  had a strong succession plan and peacefully handed over power to the hands of another able board chairperson Prof Robert Kajobe (Current board chairperson). Even after his tenuer he continued providing guidance and attendinf all AGMs except the recently concluded one in 2024.
• Post TUNADO leadership, he created a centre in Arua with his sister-Arua Market Women Honey Traders’ Association that provided market to beekeepers within west Nile. TUNADO benchmarked its operations to form the Rural Transformation Centre-RTC model that we have rolled out across the country.

He served as TUNADO Chairman at a time when the sector and the umbrella organisation, TUNADO was undergoing a period of great turmoil-in fighting, no funds for service delivery, no staff, no sense of direction, non-functioning sector, no place to call home and above all no committed membership.

We have known Mr. Jurua Jackson McPeace as Chairman, leader, master of corporate governance and a big pillar for TUNADO and beekeeping sector in Uganda. We appreciate him for being courageous, enthusiastic, charismatic, welcoming heart, advocate, great resource, mentor, hardworking, patriot, great thinker, passionate, knowledgeable, sharing without discrimination and a big pillar. We will miss his contribution in the beekeeping sector.

In his memory, we will have “Jurua Gardens” at TUNADO home in Ddundu.

As beekeeping family, we therefore want to extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and relatives. We pray that God continues to strengthen us in these trying moments.

MHSRIP

For God and my Country

Biryomumaisho Dickson