Welcome 2016!

Dear DICOTA member,
We've hit the 2016 ground running. We are pleased to share our first New Year update!

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DICOTA Board of Trustees reorganizes following elections

Pursuant to DICOTA Bylaws, following the Board of Trustee elections, the Board of Trustees held their inaugural board meeting on Thursday January 14 and reorganized. The Board of Trustees is now organized as follows.

Board Chair
Lunda Asmani, Kansas

Board Secretary
Jessica Che Mponda, New York

Trustee Board Members
Miriam Chiume, New York
Gerald (Jerry) Mkony, Texas
Asha Nyang’anyi, Maryland
Kurwa Nyigu, Virginia
Mbakisya A. Onyango, Tennessee
Crispin Semakula, Minnesota
Nasibu Sareva, Minnesota

Past Chair
Frederick Mjema, Oklahoma

The Board is ready to work. Among the top priorities is implementing its strategic plan which includes strengthening and collaborating with various Tanzania Communities in the Unites States and ensuring a successful 2016 Convention in Dallas, Texas.

DICOTA delegation begins 2016 visiting partners in Dar es Salaam

DICOTA Board of Trustee Member Dr. Crispin Semakula and Deputy Secretary Ms. Nisa Kibona traveled to Dar es Salaam to visit our partners as part of implementing the DICOTA Strategic Plan. The delegation also met various partners to discuss DICOTA activities and also continue planning for the 2016 Convention to be held in Dallas, Texas April 28-May 1, 2016. The meetings were very productive.

2016 DICOTA Awards Nomination!

Dont' forget to nominate a fellow Tanzanian for one of these four award categories. The awards are:

Business Achievement Award
Outstanding Philanthropist Award
Youth Achievement Award
Professional Achievement Award

Any Tanzanian can be nominated. Read about and nominate someone for the award here. Nominating deadline is January 31, 2016

Global Health Catalyst Summit @ Harvard Medical School

Members of the African Diaspora Communities are cordially invited to attend the 2016 Global Health Catalyst (GHC) Summit at Harvard Medical School Boston April 29-30, 2016.

Africa is on the rise, and public health is the anchor of economic health and individual well being, in Africa and elsewhere. The objective of the 2016 Harvard summit is to provide a forum for discussion, development and adoption of tangible actions that can be taken as well as innovative approaches to catalyze high impact international collaborations with African institutions in health care and development. The focus will be on cancer prevention and control and the achievement of universal health coverage benefiting African communities. This will continue in the tradition of the highly successful 2015 summit and advance discussions, win-win partnership building and other actions that will have a sustained and measurable impact, save lives, promote African development. Please register

For additional information you may also contact NesiWangu or Harriet Shangarai 240-672-1788 or

DICOTA Delegation visit to Dar es Salaam in pictures.

Dr. Crispin Semakula, Board of Trustee member visits Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue at Tanzania's State House.

Dr. Crispin Semakula, Board of Trustee member visits Ambassador Anisa Mbega, Director of Diaspora Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nisa Kibona, Deputy Secretary General visits James Matarajio, Director General of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC)

Nisa Kibona, Deputy Secretary General visits Tuntufye Mwabusi, National Housing Corporation

Dr. Crispin Semakula and Nisa Kibona visiting with Seif Kamtunda of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Crispin Semakula and Nisa Kibona visiting with Lucy Naivasha of CRDB Bank.

Nisa Kibona, Deputy Secretary General visits Joseph Kusaga, Chief Executive Officer of Clouds Media Group.

Dr. Crispin Semakula visits with Ummy Mwalimu, Minister of Health.

Dr. Crispin Semakula visits with Dr. Ulisubya Mpoki, Principal Secretary Ministry of Health.

Nisa Kibona, Deputy Secretary General visits Richard Kayombo of Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).

Other visits not pictured include our partners Boniface Kanemba of NSSF and Godfrey Mramba of Basil & Alred.