The Board of Directors of MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited today announces the appointment of Mr. Phrase Lubega as the Managing Director of MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited, reinforcing the company’s commitment to accelerating financial inclusion and digital innovation across Uganda. This appointment is subject to approval by the Regulator, the Bank of Uganda.
With over three decades of experience spanning telecommunications, information technology, and financial services, Phrase Lubega brings a wealth of leadership expertise and a proven track record of driving growth, innovation and operational excellence across multiple markets.
Prior to this appointment, Phrase served as Interim Managing Director of MoMo Payment Service Bank in Nigeria, where he was responsible for shaping and executing the bank’s long-term strategy and digital banking model. Under his leadership, the business achieved strong revenue growth, improved operational efficiencies and successfully launched new products to enhance competitiveness in the market.
His extensive career within MTN Group includes senior leadership roles such as Group Executive: Fintech Commercial Operations and General Manager: Commercial and Go-To-Market, where he played a critical role in driving Mobile Financial Services growth across the Group’s footprint, contributing to customer growth, improved retention and expansion of MTN’s mobile money operations across multiple countries.
Serigne Dioum, Group Chief Executive Officer: MTN Group Fintech, said:
“We are delighted to appoint Phrase Lubega as Managing Director of MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited. Phrase brings deep market expertise, strong execution capability and a proven track record of scaling mobile financial services across diverse markets. His leadership will be instrumental as we strengthen our position in Uganda and continue to expand access to inclusive, secure and innovative digital financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses.”
Sylvia Mulinge, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited, said:
“On behalf of the Board, we are pleased to appoint Phrase Lubega to lead MTN Mobile Money Uganda into its next phase of growth. His deep understanding of the business, strong governance experience and proven leadership across the MTN footprint position him well to drive sustainable value for all stakeholders. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Sarah Bateta Okwi for her steady leadership during the interim period.”
Commenting on his appointment, Phrase Lubega said:
“It is an honour to lead MTN Mobile Money Uganda at such an exciting time in the evolution of digital financial services. I look forward to working with the talented team and our stakeholders to expand access to financial solutions, enhance customer experience, and continue driving the growth of Uganda’s digital economy.”
A Ugandan national, Mr. Lubega has held several senior leadership positions within MTN Uganda, including General Manager: Mobile Financial Services, where he successfully led the launch of innovative products such as MoKash and drove strong revenue growth in a competitive and regulated environment.
He also served as Chief Information Officer of MTN Uganda, where he spearheaded the transformation of IT systems and enabled the growth of mobile money services, contributing to MTN’s market leadership in the country.
Beyond his executive roles, Mr. Lubega has extensive governance experience, serving on multiple boards across MTN’s Mobile Money operations in Africa, including as a non-executive director in Benin, Congo Brazzaville, and Guinea Conakry.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from York University (UK), an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology (USA), and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Makerere University.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to Acting Managing Director, Sarah Bateta Okwi, for her leadership and stewardship of the business over the past several months. Her dedication and commitment have ensured continuity, stability and sustained momentum for MTN Mobile Money Uganda during the transition period.
