The Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) and the Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA) recently co-hosted the 2nd Edition of the Women in Banking and Finance Conference. The theme was “Accelerating Women’s Leadership and Influence in Banking and Finance.”

UIBFS CEO Mrs. Goretti Masadde emphasized the importance of investing in women as leaders, saying, “While we may come from different banks, different departments, and different countries, at our core, we are all women navigating similar challenges: balancing work and family, seeking visibility and growth in male-dominated spaces, and trying to lead with both excellence and authenticity.”

Ms. Patricia Amito Lutwama, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at UBA, representing the Board Chair, Mr. Julius Kakeeto, highlighted the need to help women unlock their potential in leadership capacities. She explained that the Women in Banking Conference stems from the Women Economic Empowerment Initiative launched by UBA last year.

Ms. Sylvia Owachi Jagwe, Acting CEO of Cairo Bank, representing the Board Chair of the institute and MD of Housing Finance Bank, Mr. Michael K. Mugabi, encouraged participants not to leave the room unchanged. “There’s no better time than now to have this conversation and influence the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

Honorable Amos Kankunda, speaking on behalf of the chief guest, Speaker of Parliament Honorable Anita Among, emphasized the importance of involving men in conversations about accelerating women in leadership. He shared the importance of observing the three A’s – aptitude, attitude, and altitude – in breaking barriers in leadership.

Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, UN Women Representative in Uganda, commended the government’s progress in promoting women’s leadership, saying, “When women lead, we all win.” She noted that while the public sector has made significant strides, the private sector still has room for improvement.

Keynote speaker Ms. Josephine Okui Ossiya, CEO of Capital Market Authority Uganda (CMA), highlighted the need for industry-wide conversations about women’s leadership. She stated, “People in leadership are not mind readers; you need to put yourself out there and take opportunities.” She also cited an IMF report indicating that closing the gender gap would improve output and productivity by 20%.

The conference featured various speakers and panelists discussing topics such as:

Building Resilient Female Leaders in Banking and Finance, Sustainable Finance Accelerated: Women Leading the Charge, The Agile Woman: Accelerating Success Through Change and Innovation, Strategies for Achieving Work-Life Balance for Women in the Corporate Environment, among others.