PostBank Uganda forms new board— Andrew Owiny to chair the government-owned lender’s quest to become leader in financial inclusion

Investment banker and corporate finance guru, Andrew Otengo Owiny has been appointed by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) to head the PostBank Uganda (PBU) board as Chairman.

Also appointed to the PBU board, is Ms. Farida Mukasa Kasujja, a banker and Francis Onebe, an audit, accounting and taxation expert. The trio, joins Beatrice Amongi Lagada, Lawrence Kasenge, Julius Kakeeto, Andrew Kabeera and Justine Tumuheki Wabwire, whose terms as board members are running.  

“We introduce to you a team of phenomenal professionals whose diverse experience and prudent guidance shall lead PostBank to achieve its strategic mission of offering affordable and sustainable financial services that drive financial inclusion, for social-economic development,” reads a statement from PBU.

“This is one of the many directional changes at PostBank Uganda Limited that have been implemented to transform the institution,” further said the statement.  

PostBank Uganda (PBU) is a public company limited by shares and formed under the Public Enterprises Reform and Divestiture Statute of 1983 and the Uganda Communications Act, 1997. It was incorporated under the Companies Act in 1998 and is owned by the Government of Uganda with 100% shareholding.

PostBank Uganda network has since grown to 47 branches countrywide, stretching from Yumbe to Kabale, from Kotido to Masaka, 57 ATMs and over 300 Post Agents that continue to serve over 1 million customers. 

With nearly 1,000 staff, PostBank is a market leader in financial inclusion.

CEO East Africa Magazine here below presents the full credentials of the entire PostBank Uganda Board

Andrew Otengo Owiny; Board Chairman

Andrew joins PostBank as Board Chairperson. He joins with over 32 years of practical experience in Banking, particularly Investment Banking, Corporate Finance/Financial & Investment Advisory and Capital Markets activities in the USA, Europe & Africa. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Finance & Accounting from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, and a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Degree (Hons) from Makerere University, Kampala (MUK).

Andrew has, over the years served, and continues to serve, on numerous other Boards of organizations across Africa. From Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE), ICEA Life Assurance Company Limited Uganda, G4S Secure Solutions (Uganda) Limited, National Council of Sports, Uganda Securities Exchange (USE), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), aBi Finance Limited, Uganda Rugby Union (URU), CAL Merchant Bank Limited (now Cal Bank Limited) in Accra, Ghana; National Merchant Bank of Zimbabwe Limited (‘NMBZ’) in Harare, Zimbabwe, to Securities Discount Company Limited (‘SDC’) in Accra, Ghana.

Andrew has been the recipient of different awards over the years, notable being the "Kikonyogo Capital Markets Award" (KCMA) 2003, in recognition of his exemplary contribution towards the development of the Ugandan Capital Markets.

He has been a speaker, moderator and facilitator at a multitude of Conferences, Seminars & Workshops Globally, including in the USA, UK, Uganda and Rwanda.

At the invitation of the United States Congress/House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa of the House Committee on International Relations, Andrew provided written and oral testimony regarding “Africa’s Emerging Capital Markets” in June 1997.

Andrew was nominated one of the “2009 Distinguished Wharton Alumni (contributing to Africa)” by the ‘Wharton African Students Association’ (WASA), of which Mr Owiny was the founding President; and the ‘Wharton Club of Africa’, a congregation of Wharton Alumni from across the African Continent.

He is currently the Group Executive Director of MBEA Brokerage Services Ltd, Kigali, Rwanda.

Farida Mukasa Kasujja; Non-Executive Director

Farida joins PostBank as Non-Executive Director, boasting over 23 years of experience in banking. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Makerere University and is currently undertaking a Chartered Banker Master of Business Administration of Bangor University Business School, United Kingdom.

Farida started her career in Corporate Relationship Management and Branch Service at Standard Chartered Bank in 1997 where she rose through the ranks, taking on various roles including Head Public Sector, Investors, Intermediaries, Banks and Development Organizations at Standard Chartered Bank Zambia and Zimbabwe. She became Executive Director and Country Head Global banking at Standard Chartered Bank in 2018.

Farida is currently a consultant for client relations at African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), East Africa Regional Office in Uganda.

Farida is serving on various boards including Carewise Investments Limited, CasemedCare and Greensteds International School.

Francis Onebe; Non-Executive Director

Francis joins PostBank as Non- Executive Director with over 35 years of experience in Audit, Accountancy, Taxation and Consultancy Assignments with clients from all sectors of the economy in the East African region.

His audit experience covers a wide range of sectors including financial institutions, insurance, manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, construction and donor-funded projects to mention but a few. Francis spent over a decade with Ernst & Young in Uganda and Kenya and is the founder and managing partner of Price & King, a local firm affiliated with Prime Global. He has done many consultancy assignments including share valuations, due diligence reviews, review of accounting systems, preparation of accounting manuals, investigations, management consultancy assignments, mergers, training and recruitment and audit quality reviews.

Francis holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nkumba University, is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) of the United Kingdom and is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU).

Beatrice Amongi Lagada; Non-Executive Director

Beatrice has over 36 years of experience in education administration and politics. She was the first woman Guild President of the Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo from 1989-1990. Ms Lagada was the Inspector of schools 1984-1988 and the headmistress of St. Katherine Girls Senior Secondary School 1991-1994.

She also served as a Woman Member of Parliament for Oyam District from 2006-2011, where she was rated the 12th and 10th MP in the Parliamentary Score Card.

During her time serving as an MP, she served on various committees in parliament, including Defense and Internal Affairs, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Government Assurances Committee, Chairperson Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Services (2008-2011) and Public Accounts Committee. She also served as a Member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and a Member of the Parliamentarians for Global Action.

Beatrice has served on various boards over the years, including at National Medical Stores, Lira University Council, Kyambogo University Council, National Information and Technology Authority, among others. 

She holds a Bachelor of Education from Makerere University, an International Diploma in Planning for Rural Development from National Institute for Rural Development India, and a diploma in Education from National Teacher’s College, Kyambogo.

Lawrence Kasenge; Non-Executive Director

Lawrence has over 15 years’ wealth of experience in Finance, Public Policy analysis and management. He also has experience in the development and review of the legal and regulatory framework of the Financial sector in Uganda.  

Lawrence is a member of a number of high-level coordination committees which include; the inter-institutional Committee that is responsible for Developing the Financial Sector Development Strategy (FSDS), a key member of the on the National coordination committee for financial inclusion in Uganda, a key member of the technical working group on the Financial Sector Stability Forum as well as the technical working group on Agricultural Finance, among others.

He holds a bachelor’s degree of Science (Hons) in Quantitative Economics, a Master of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance (MBA) and a Master of Arts in Economic Policy and Planning (MAEPP), all from Makerere University. 

Lawrence is currently a Senior Economist with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development under the Department of Financial Services.  

Julius Kakeeto; Managing Director/ Chief Executive

Julius Kakeeto is the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of PostBank. Previously he worked at Orient Bank as the Managing Director /CEO.

He boasts of extensive banking experience gained in Uganda, South Africa and the United Kingdom when he worked with Citibank in various capacities with his last posting being in London in Citi Global Markets where he was a Vice President in the Investment Banking Division, focusing on Emerging Markets, before returning home as Finance Director at Equity Bank.

Julius is the outgoing Council President of the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) and former Council member of the Uganda Securities Exchange. He has also attended the CEO apprenticeship program with CEO Summit – Strathmore Business School where he was class president for the pioneer class.

Julius is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCCA), a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountant (ICPAU) and an alumnus of Manchester Business School where he obtained his MBA.

Andrew Kabeera; Executive Director

Andrew is a seasoned banker that has garnered 15 years’ experience working in Uganda’s financial services sector. He worked at Standard Chartered Bank and most recently as dfcu Bank’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Change and Innovation Officer where he saved of UGX 15billions through digitization, centralization and productivity monitoring.

At Standard Chartered Bank, where he was the Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking and Commercial Banking Operations. He was in charge of Lending and Liabilities Operations – two critical departments for most banks. He was also in charge of information technology governance among the many senior positions he held within Standard Chartered across Africa and Asia.

In 2010-2012, was the chairman Uganda Bankers association clearing committee, the high light was the introduction of the second session for clearing Efts

2015-to Dec 2016, Kabeera was the chairman Uganda Bankers Association Operations committee where they worked with the Central Bank to start using swift messages as a mode of advice for cash collections/deposits. He also worked on a number of initiatives like introducing the Trade confirmation systems, outsourcing of cash, biometric technology for ATMs amongst others.

Kabeera finalized the CEO Apprenticeship Program- CEO Summit Uganda, Strathmore University Business school and University of Cape Town, Africa Future leaders program, Emerging leaders program and is a Consumer Banking academy graduate on top of his  Master of Business Administration -Finance and Accounting from Uganda Martyr’s University Nkozi and Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Makerere University.

Justine Tumuheki Wabwire; Company Secretary

Justine is the Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary of PostBank Uganda, a position she has held for the last 10 years. Previously she worked at Uganda Law Reform Commission as Assistant Commissioner, Law Revision and before that as a State Attorney at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Justine is a seasoned lawyer and boasts of over 20 years of experience in legal, regulatory, and corporate governance in Uganda’s civil service and the banking sector.

Justine is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators (UK) and an enrolled Advocate of the Courts of Judicature in Uganda. She holds a Master of Laws Degree (LLM) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, a Diploma in Legal Practice (Dip. LP) from the Law Development Centre, PGD in Management from Uganda Management Institute and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) from Makerere University.