St. Muhereza Kyamutetera

On April 29th, 2026, aBi Finance and its partners took a bold and necessary step toward reshaping Uganda’s financial sector through the launch of two landmark sustainability initiatives.

What stands out most to me is not just the initiatives themselves, but the strength and diversity of the partnerships behind them.
aBi Finance is working alongside the Uganda Bankers Association (UBA), the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU), the Economic Policy Research Centre, the Uganda Cooperative Savings Union, the Financial Technology Service Providers Association, and the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services.

This is not a siloed effort — it is a coordinated, ecosystem-wide push to embed sustainability at every level of the financial system.

Through the IFRS S1 & S2 and GRI Capacity Building Programme, financial institutions will be better equipped to report on climate risks and sustainability performance — aligning Uganda with global standards and improving transparency.

At the same time, the Tier IV ESG Framework will support microfinance institutions in integrating ESG principles into their operations — strengthening governance, promoting responsible lending, and ensuring that even the most community-based institutions can grow sustainably.

The benefits of this kind of coordinated action are clear:

📌 Stronger and more credible financial reporting across institutions

📌 Better management of climate and sustainability risks

📌 Increased investor confidence and access to long-term capital

📌 Enhanced financial inclusion, especially for underserved communities

📌 A more resilient and future-ready financial sector

What makes this particularly powerful is that it builds on over a decade of work — reaching more than 2.2 million farmers, supporting women, youth, and underserved regions, and creating over 300,000 jobs.

For Uganda to achieve its long-term economic ambitions, including growing into a USD 500 billion economy, this is exactly the kind of partnership-driven, forward-looking approach that is needed.

I’m curious — how do you see these initiatives shaping the future of Uganda’s financial sector, and what role should partnerships like these play in driving sustainable and inclusive growth?

I believe 2026 may be one of Uganda’s most consequential years in a long time.

Oil is nearing production. Gold exports have surged. AI is reshaping business. Global trade is shifting. Growth projections are improving — but the micro pressures remain real.

That is why the Stanbic Bank Economic Forum 2026 felt timely. And the message was consistent: opportunity is real, but ex*****on will decide who wins.

In my latest feature — “Big Dreams Need a Big Bank — and the 9 Other Things I Took Away from the Stanbic Bank - Uganda Economic Forum 2026” — I break down the 10 biggest insights I drew from the forum.

Read it here:

Big Dreams Need a Big Bank — and the 9 Other Things I Took Away from the Stanbic Bank Economic Forum 2026 – CEO East Africa Uganda is at an inflection point. From oil and gold to agriculture financing, AI readiness and global risk, this feature unpacks the 9 key takeaways from the Stanbic Bank Economic Forum 2026 — and why ex*****on discipline will decide who wins.