DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA — 12 October 2026 — As part of its commitment to strong governance and sustainable leadership succession, the Board of Trustees of the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation (BMF) has announced a planned leadership transition ahead of the retirement of its inaugural Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ellen Mkondya-Senkoro, in August 2027. The transition process aims to ensure continuity, preserve institutional knowledge, and position the Foundation for its next phase of growth and impact.
As the founding CEO of BMF in 2006, Dr. Senkoro has transformed the Mkapa Foundation into one of Tanzania’s leading health and development organizations. During her 20-year tenure, BMF has positively impacted more than 33 million people across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and mobilized approximately TZS 500 billion for health and development initiatives, growing from an initial resource base of TZS 500 million in year 2006. Her leadership championed innovative solutions to health workforce challenges, resulting in the hiring and deployment of over 19,000 health workers to underserved communities. The Foundation has also supported more than 1,200 mid-level health cadre scholarships and enabled the construction of 520 health facilities, including 480 staff houses countrywide, thus helping expand access to quality healthcare for millions of Tanzanians.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, praised Dr. Senkoro for her exceptional leadership in shaping the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation (BMF) into a premier institution. "As our inaugural Chief Executive Officer, she has been instrumental in building our organization, securing vital global partnerships, and cementing BMF as a highly credible, high-impact health systems institution," said Ambassador Mulamula.
"Furthermore, she led our sustainability strategies by establishing the BMF Endowment Fund as well as the BMF subsidiary business arm - Imara Horizon Company (IHC), whereas she oversaw the construction of the Mkapa Health Plaza in the Kawe area of Dar es Salaam as IHC’s first flagship project. This planned transition is a testament to the strength of our governance and our deliberate, forward-looking planning."
Outgoing CEO Dr. Ellen Senkoro remarked, “It has been the honor and privilege of my career to build BMF alongside an exceptional internal team, an engaged Board, and a dedicated partner community. I have absolute confidence in the institutional strength we have established and, in the Board’s, methodical approach to this transition. I look forward to leading the Foundation through this coming year to support a seamless handover.”
This transition is the result of careful, long-term planning that began in February 2026 to support our continued growth and stability. The executive transition is being managed by the Board in partnership with external reputable executive search specialists to identify a dynamic leader who will build upon the robust foundation established by Dr. Senkoro and the BMF team. The process will ensure key stakeholder engagement, rigorous vetting, structured knowledge transfer, and a smooth integration runway. As we enter the next phase of this journey, we look forward to sharing our vision publicly in an upcoming advertisement for the CEO position in the coming weeks.
The Board reassures our national and global partners, Government, donors, funders and communities that BMF’s mission, strategic direction, and governance remain completely unchanged, and all programs and partnerships will proceed without interruption.
Released by:
Amb. Liberata Mulamula,
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation
About the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation (BMF)
BMF is a premier non-profit Trust founded in April 2006 by the late H.E. Benjamin W. Mkapa, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania whereas following his demise in July 2020, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, is serving as successor Settlor. BMF works hand-in-hand with governments and strategic partners to strengthen health systems and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for underserved populations across Tanzania and the wider East African region.
Media Contact:
Communications Unit, Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation
Email: info@mkapafoundation.or.tz | Website: www.mkapafoundation.or.tz
LinkedIn: Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation | Instagram: @mkapafoundation | X: @MkapaFoundation
To review BMF’s two decades of healthcare impact, please view the BMF 20-Year Documentary on our official channels. https://ig.me/reel/Da5z4sViom7/
