As businesses place greater emphasis on inclusive leadership and executive diversity, the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) has concluded its Women in Leadership Program 2026, reinforcing efforts to develop a stronger pipeline of women leaders for Uganda’s financial sector and the wider corporate landscape.
The five-day executive leadership programme, held under the theme “Empowering Women to Lead with Confidence, Influence, and Impact,” brought together women professionals from banks, insurance companies, regulators and other institutions to strengthen the leadership skills increasingly required in today’s evolving business environment.
The programme focused on strategic leadership, executive presence, negotiation, influence, resilience and decision-making, competencies regarded as critical for organisations seeking sustainable growth and stronger corporate governance.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Kansiime Mary Nyende, Director of Professional Development at UIBFS, representing the Institute’s Chief Executive Officer, said the programme was intentionally designed to help women build confidence in their leadership abilities.
“This programme was intentionally designed to help women embrace leadership with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. It began with a powerful invitation, to accept yourself as a leader. Because before others can believe in your leadership, you must first believe in it yourself.”
She noted that developing confident and capable leaders remains central to strengthening institutions and advancing professionalism across Uganda’s financial services industry.
The Guest of Honour, Maggie Mukiibi Lutwama, Chief Executive Officer of UTEL, said programmes that prepare more women for leadership positions are becoming increasingly important as organisations seek diverse perspectives to drive innovation and performance.
“Across the public and private sectors, women continue to make remarkable contributions to economic growth, social development, innovation, and organizational performance. Yet we also know that women remain underrepresented in many leadership and decision-making positions. Programs such as this are therefore not only timely but necessary. They equip women with the confidence, strategic perspective, executive presence, and networks required to take their rightful place at leadership tables.”
Throughout the five-day programme, participants attended interactive sessions led by experienced leadership coaches covering leadership in a volatile and rapidly changing business environment, self-leadership, negotiation as a leadership practice, influence, executive presence and preparing for future leadership opportunities.
Facilitators included Rachel Dumba of Steadman Global, Betty Ogiel of Initiative Solutions, Norah Bwaya, Jackie Namara Rukare of Iguru Consult and Pamela Babirukamu of Evolving Woman Uganda, who guided participants through practical exercises designed to strengthen their leadership capabilities.
Beyond classroom learning, the programme also created opportunities for mentorship, peer learning and professional networking, enabling participants to exchange experiences and build lasting professional relationships across Uganda’s financial services sector.
The initiative attracted professionals and stakeholders from key institutions, including the Capital Markets Authority, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Uganda Securities Exchange, Sanlam Allianz, Jubilee Life, C-Care, Centenary Bank, Ecobank Uganda, UGAFODE Microfinance, Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), Equity Bank, DFCU Bank and TotalEnergies, reflecting growing recognition among employers of the importance of investing in leadership development.
Participants described the programme as practical and transformative, saying it equipped them with skills they can apply within their organisations while inspiring them to mentor other women and champion inclusive leadership practices.
The successful completion of the Women in Leadership Program reinforces UIBFS’s commitment to developing future-ready leaders for Uganda’s financial services industry. As businesses navigate an increasingly complex operating environment, leadership development initiatives such as this continue to play an important role in strengthening governance, improving organisational performance and preparing the next generation of corporate leaders.
