The Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS), in partnership with the Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA), hosted the 2nd Edition of the Women in Banking and Finance Conference.
In her remarks delivered by honourable Amos Kankunda, the chairman of finance and economic development Committee in Parliament, the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Anita Among told participants that it is important to observe the three A’s while talking about Breaking Barriers in Leadership. “These are aptitude, attitude, and altitude, these influence how we see ourselves and our ability to rise above the ordinary.”
She asked women to be agile and smart, noting that this will protect them from exploitation. “The end result of a positive mindset and natural ability to do things or even to get things done, is attitude which gives you altitude, your ability to rise up above the ordinary how high can you rise up the ladder from ground level or sea level, the sky cannot even be the limit, because man has gone beyond the skies of other planets. I urge you to have a high sense of awareness of your surroundings so as to avoid falling victim of these pitfalls.”
She asked them to avoid suffering in silence.”Speak out to get help so you can safeguard your mental health as you ascend the ladder of seniority exercise a fair degree of selflessness to mentor and uplift your juniors, especially fellow women.”
The CEO of UIBFS, Mrs. Goretti Masadde, shared insights on why such an event is not only essential but also necessary in this current time. In her remarks, she said that this year’s theme is a call to action and a reflection of the urgency to invest 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 stated; “We are talking about resilience. How does a woman move from wherever they are? How do they handle all these different aspects and still be able to influence and lead? We are also talking about responsibility in the sense that now we know the issues around climate change, the issues around social responsibility, the issues around the Sustainable Development Goals. As a woman, how can you be a champion for these things, for responsibility and and sustainability? So even if I’ve just got into work as a young girl, Am I okay with the environment that we are working in? Can I promote sustainability? Can I promote recycling, reusing, reducing waste. Just doing that, you’re already being a champion.”
Representing the Board Chair at Uganda Bankers’ Association Mr. Julius Kakeeto, Ms. Patricia Amito Lutwama the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs UBA, stressed the need to help women unlock their potential in leadership capacities. She explained that the Women in Banking Conference comes from the Women Economic Empowerment Initiative that was launched last year by the Uganda Bankers’ Association.
The guest of honour, Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, the UN Women Representative in Uganda highlighted the progression Uganda has made towards Accelerating Women leadership in the public sector.
She commends the government of Uganda for progressing and putting women in leadership positions. ‘’When women lead, we all win,’’ she said in her remarks. She explained that whereas the public sector is significantly improving in the women leadership agenda, the private sector still has a lot of room for improvement. She also commended the institute for adopting the Women Economic Empowerment Initiatives.
In her keynote address, Ms. Josephine Okui Ossiya , the CEO of Capital Market Authority Uganda (CMA), commends the institute for creating relevant spaces such to discuss matters that are crucial to individual and organizational growth.
She encourages the participants to be cautious about the places that can advance their careers and to put themselves forward. ‘’People in leadership are not mind readers; you need to put yourself out there and take the opportunities that are in front of you,’’. She stated that the IMF report reveals that closing the gender gap will improve output and productivity by 20%, so it’s an essential action.
The conference made possible through the generous support of Bank of Uganda, Finance Trust Bank, KCB Bank, NCBA Bank, Financial Intelligence Authority, Housing Finance Bank, I&M Bank, Centenary Bank, Post Bank and GT Bank.
