UIBFS, UBA Host 2nd Women in Banking Conference to Champion Leadership and Inclusion

Kampala, Uganda- Hundreds of women working in the banking sector gathered at the Protea Hotel on Friday morning for the 2nd Edition of the Women in Banking and Finance Conference, themed “Accelerating Women’s Leadership and Influence in Banking and Finance.”

The event, co-hosted by the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) in partnership with the Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA), brought together some of the most influential women in the banking and finance industry to share insights and practical steps toward accelerating women’s leadership in the sector.

The CEO of UIBFS, Mrs. Goretti Masadde, noted that the event is not only important but also timely. In her remarks, she stressed that this year’s theme is a call to action and reflects the urgency of investing in women not just as contributors, but also as leaders. “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,” she said.

She added that although women make up the highest percentage of employees in banking, their representation drops at senior levels, with only 24% in leadership roles compared to men. “But it’s a celebration. We are celebrating because there is consistent growth. We are now seeing female CEOs. So, while we say there is still a lot of work to be done, I think what needs to happen is to continue what we are doing, but then bring in a little bit of strategy. We’ve been challenged to ask: can we have policies in place that support balance? For instance, I know that the regulator, the Capital Markets Authority, has suggested that regulations could require boards to be diverse—50% female, 50% male. That would be supportive,” said Masadde.

Representing the Board Chair of the Uganda Bankers’ Association, Mr. Julius Kakeeto, Ms. Patricia Amito Lutwama, the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at UBA, expressed the need to help women unlock their leadership potential. She explained that the Women in Banking Conference is part of the Women Economic Empowerment Initiative launched last year by UBA.

Representing the Board Chair of the institute and MD of Housing Finance Bank, Mr. Michael K. Mugabi, Ms. Sylvia Owachi Jagwe, Acting CEO of Cairo Bank, encouraged participants not to leave the room unchanged. She said there is no better time than now to have this conversation and influence the leaders of tomorrow.

Honourable Amos Kankunda, representing the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among (the chief guest), emphasized the importance of involving men in this conversation to ensure they also support women’s advancement in leadership.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the Speaker, he highlighted the importance of the three A’s in breaking barriers in leadership: aptitude, attitude, and altitude, which influence how we see ourselves and our ability to rise above the ordinary.

The guest of honour, Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, the UN Women Representative in Uganda, emphasized that women in leadership help unlock economic potential through inclusive growth and better investment outcomes.

“We have heard the statistics—out of 265 board members, only 87 are women. But if you look closer at what those 87 women have achieved, you’ll be surprised and amazed.”

She added that many banks have products for women, often led by women leaders who influenced their development.

“A study in 2020 found that companies with more women in executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability. Women leaders tend to prioritize social equity and inclusive development. Globally, women parliamentarians are more likely to introduce legislation on health, education, childcare, and gender-based violence. We conducted a study as UN Women in 2021 and confirmed this.”

During her keynote address, Ms. Josephine Okui Ossiya, CEO of the Capital Markets Authority Uganda (CMA), stressed the need for all players in the banking industry to participate in such discussions.

She explained that this is not just a women’s agenda but an industry agenda, and she commended the institute for creating platforms to discuss issues that matter to both individuals and organisations. She encouraged participants to be intentional about identifying spaces that can advance their careers and to actively pursue opportunities.

“People in leadership are not mind readers; you need to put yourself out there and take the opportunities in front of you,” she said. She cited an IMF report stating that closing the gender gap could increase output and productivity by 20%, making it a necessary and impactful action.