Fred Ssewamala, Social Entrepreneur Dr. Ssewamala is an Associate Professor of Social Work and International Affairs at Columbia University School of Social Work; a Global Thought Fellow with Columbia University; and a Senior Research Fellow with New America Foundation. Dr. Ssewamala has several years of practice in the International Social Development field.

The Bank of Suubi follows Fred Ssewamala on a present-day journey back to his home in Uganda, where he conducts ambitious research, and flashes back to his life story, starting with a militia raid that left him orphaned at age twelve. Through archival images and Fred’s candid recounting, we learn how he narrowly escaped death, bounced between extended family homes, won Uganda’s most prestigious scholarship, and ultimately, came to the U.S. and pursued his life’s work.
As we return to Uganda with Fred, we learn that his mission is to dramatically improve prospects for orphans there, and we meet two orphans as they are enlisted to participate in Fred’s research. The predominant question -- for us, for Fred, and for the researchers worldwide who await his results -– becomes: will they find suubi (hope)?