Uganda Bankers’ Association

General Overview

• Founded: 1981 as the umbrella body for Uganda’s licensed commercial banks

• Legal Status: Registered as an NGO under a Bank of Uganda statute since 1993 and formally registered as a company in 2002.

• Headquarters: Kampala, originally at Buganda Road; now at Plot 2702 Block 244, Nyangweso Road, Kironde Road, Muyenga

• Membership:

  • 25 commercial banks

  • Uganda Development Bank

  • East African Development Bank

  • 9 associate supervised financial institutions (Tier 2 & 3 SFIs) like FINCA, Pride MFI, Post Bank, etc.

Mission, Vision & Structure

• Vision: Cultivate a strong, vibrant, and respected financial services industry in East Africa

• Mission: Promote a sound banking environment via research, innovation, advocacy, governance, and best practices

• Core Values: Integrity, transparency, professionalism, good governance, teamwork, and service excellence

• Governance:

  • Governing Council comprises MDs/CEOs of member banks

  • Executive Committee of 5 CEOs oversees operations

  • Day-to-day activities managed by a secretariat led by an Executive Director

Key Personnel

• Executive Director:
  Wilbrod Humphreys Owor – Appointed September 8, 2016

• Chairperson:
  Sarah Arapta, CEO of Citibank Uganda – Elected May 13, 2022; term runs until May 2024

• Vice-Chair:
  Fabian Kasi, Managing Director of Centenary Bank

• Executive Committee Member (representing SFIs):
  Veronicah Namagembe, Pride Microfinance – on UBA’s EXCO

Activities & Impact

• Policy & Advocacy:

  • Collaborates closely with Bank of Uganda; holds monthly Governor–CEOs policy meetings

  • Influences national financial legislation/regulations (e.g., Financial Institutions Act 2004, Foreign Exchange Act 2004).

• Industry Standards:

  • Enforces a voluntary Code of Good Banking Practice since 1996

• Payment Infrastructure:

  • Key player in developing Uganda’s electronic payment & switching systems

• Consumer Financial Literacy:

  • Promotes USSD/SMS tools and other initiatives to help consumers understand banking products

  • Cyber Security:

  • Led implementation of a Cyber Security Operations Center for the banking sector (Feb–Jun 2022)

• Industry Collaboration:

  • Hosts sector-wide events, committees (e.g., credit, compliance, fraud), annual bankers conference, and sports activities .

Contact & Resources

• Address: Plot 2702 Block 244 Nyangweso Road, Off Kironde Road, Muyenga, Kampala

• Phone: +256 312 343 400 (or 414-343‑199)

• Email: secretariat@ugandabankers.org

• Website: ugandabankers.org

In Summary

The Uganda Bankers’ Association is a foundational institution in Uganda’s financial sector—bringing together commercial and development banks as well as microfinance players. Its strategic efforts span governance, payments infrastructure, cybersecurity, consumer literacy, and regulatory advocacy, all driven by its secretariat and leadership team to bolster the integrity and reputation of banking in Uganda and the wider region.