Top 40 under40: Meet the top star performers

DEVELOPMENT

KAMPALA- Sunday Vision's Top 40 under 40 ranking is back. We are looking for outstanding managers/leaders who are star performers and advancing in their careers.

They should be a beacon to their peers and doing something extra that impacts their communities, all this while they are aged 40 and below. If you are this person or know someone who is, email your nomination to Sunday@newvision. co.ug.

All nominations will be considered by a committee, which decides who will be profiled. From the profiled individuals, a panel of judges will select the final winners, who will be announced in January. This week, Ritah Mukasa and Cissy Apiso profiled eight nominees, who are in the running to become Uganda's Top 40 under 40 2019

LAW

Aisha Naiga, 39, Partner at ABMAK associates

Naiga is among the top female lawyers in Uganda. This is according to Chambers Global, the world's leading guide that ranks top lawyers and law firms in over 190 countries.

Also, since 2014, IFLR 1000; the guide to the world's leading financial and corporate lawyers ranks her among the top three female lawyers in energy, project development, project finance and banking in Uganda.

Currently, Naiga is the only female partner at ABMAK Associates, a leading specialised law firm that focuses on oil and gas, power and electricity, tax advisory, mining, and infrastructure.

At ABMAK, Naiga is the head of the department of energy, project finance, power, and electricity. Her job involves advising on energy and infrastructure projects in relation to project development, negotiation of bankable project documents and project finance in the power and electricity sector, oil and gas and roads.

"I have drafted and negotiated bankable project documents in the energy sector," she says.

These include host government, power purchase, and direct agreements. Naiga has also worked for project sponsors and lenders in the negotiation  of facility agreements, share retention and subordination agreements as well as sponsor support agreements, among others.

Aside from the above, Naiga also practices corporate law, where she advises multinational corporate entities n Uganda.  These include key players in the banking and telecom sectors, as well as project companies on corporate governance issues, board affairs, and company secretarial matters.

She also advises on restructuring, including M&A deals, corporate

finance, public offers, rights issues and structuring shareholder loans.

 "I am admitted to practice law in Uganda and Tanzania," Naiga assures, adding: "This qualification has placed ABMAK in a strategic position when it comes to the appointment of counsel for projects between Uganda and Tanzania."

She also scooped the Attorney General's prize after emerging the 3rd best student at the Law Development Centre, Kampala for the 2005-2006 academic year. She also won the masters of laws scholarship from the University of Kent law school, Canterbury, the UK.

Aisha Naiga

 
WHAT MAKES HER TICK?

Naiga is uniquely qualified as she is admitted to practice law in Uganda and Tanzania.

"I accomplish this by prioritising and delegating. I concentrate on key priority areas because I realise that they can get the job done and in the best and most efficient way," she explains.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Naiga holds a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, where she graduated third in her class and the overall best female student.

She later enrolled for masters of law, specialising in international commercial law from the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.

She also attained special training in public-private partnerships, international petroleum business, and law and in FIDIC construction contracts.

CAREER LADDER

In 2003, Naiga served as an associate at Mkono & Co. Advocates, Dar-es- Salaam, Tanzania up to 2005.

In 2007, she returned to Uganda and joined Kampala Associated Advocates as a senior associate up to 2009, when she became a partner.

Naiga also served as part-time lecturer at  Makerere University college of business and management science. Between 2012-2016, she served as deputy secretary general and council member for the East African  Law Society.

In 2015, Naiga assumed her current position of partner with ABMAK Associates and director Teen & Tots Neurodevelopment Centre for children with disabilities, such as autism

From 2017 to date, she has served as director, Duke of Edinburgh International Award, Uganda chapter.

INSPIRATION

If she is given 20 minutes with anyone in the world, it has to be with former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Naiga sees herself as managing partner of the most influential law firms affecting policy changes in Africa.


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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

John Walugembe, 38, International consultant

Walugembe describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, who keeps his ear to the ground and looks out for new business opportunities.

He is an international consultant. He owns Oxford International Development Advisors, a consulting firm that is based in the UK.

 "I do a lot of work for African governments and international organisations, including the World Bank and United Nations," he says.

Walugembe is also the founder and volunteer executive director of the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda.

"We speak for small businesses, train them and link them to opportunities," he explains.

Due to his leadership abilities,  in 2014, he was appointed by the Prime Minister on the executive committee of the Skilling Uganda Reform Task force that conceptualised the Skilling Uganda strategy.  In 2017, he was also appointed by the trade minister as a board member of the Uganda Cleaner Production Centre Trust.

Walugembe has served as board member of the Directorate of Industrial Training as well.

He has also been a judge of Vision Group's Pakasa Youth Awards, a Judge for the Mulwana awards, a partner with the African Entrepreneurship Award and a judge for the NOMINET awards in the UK, among others.

On the other hand, Walugembe is conscious about impacting the community around him.  "I am passionate about helping others to start and succeed in running their businesses. I am also a member of the Rotary Club of Kampala," he says.

In the same faith, Walugembe is also associated with the Water and Sanitation Entrepreneurs Association, an organisation that is using business approaches to improve access to clean water and sanitation in rural areas in Uganda.

WHAT MAKES HIM TICK?

Walugembe focuses on his journey and ignores noise. Aside from that, he reveals that he is not a materialistic person, the reason why he does not own a lot of property.  "In any case, I do not believe that property should be a measure of one's success. I think good health, a conscience, sound faith and, relationships, are more valuable," he says.

The entrepreneur also loves the fact that he has been married for the last seven years. He thinks above 30 is a great age for men to marry.

John Walugembe

 
EDUCATION BACKGROUND

He received his master's in business administration) in finance and economics from the University of Oxford's Said Business School. He also holds a master's in public administration in development economics from Harvard University. Before that, Walugembe graduated with a first class bachelors' degree in science from Makerere University in 2004. For his secondary education, he attended Kings' College Budo and Busoga College Mwiri.

INSPIRATION

Granted 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Walugembe would want  to spend that time with himself.

FUTURE PLANS

Ten years from now, Walugembe sees himself devoting more of his time to his businesses.

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BANKING

Emmanuel Kweyamba, 33, Head of corporate operations ABSA Bank Uganda

Kweyamba is the head of corporate operations and utilities at Absa Bank Uganda.

His role entails day-to-day operational support to the bank's corporate and retail banking teams, covering trade service, markets, and treasury, as well as cash management operations.

"I ensure that the market coverage and front-facing teams are able to sufficiently and proactively respond to customer's needs," he says.

Simply put, every day, he finds a way to get things done as effectively as possible in a bid to bring customers' possibilities to life.

Due to his dedicated service, in 2011 and 2018, Kweyamba scooped the Annual Eagle and Shujja team awards, which are exceptional performance awards at the bank.

Kweyamba's career rolled out immediately he graduated from university after he secured a job in the Barclays Archives Warehouse at Kyambogo, Kampala.

While there, Kweyamba was tasked with locating, organising, filing and retrieving all documents that had been stored as a result of the Barclays buyout of Nile Bank.

"It was quite an experience, that two months down the road, I was called to join the mainstream bank operations team," he says, adding, "I handled back office processing for various bank products supporting the front office and coverage teams."

It is from this experience that he steadily rose through the ranks after his immediate bosses ignited his growth to the manager in charge of payments.

Kweyamba was later promoted to manager treasury operations, before being appointed head of payments and now head of corporate operations and utilities at the bank that is now called Absa Bank Uganda Limited.

On what makes him tick, Kweyamba says he takes yesterday as his easy day because it helps him to work harder the next day. "I have also always had a 3D approach to life. This has allowed my mind to look at challenges differently," he reveals.

Kweyamba says he sees opportunities, makes a difference, as well as finds different ways of doing things better.

"This way, I am open to learning new things, understanding risks in decision-making, initiate and drive new initiatives to achieve efficiency and effectiveness for personal and business expectations," he explains.

Emmanuel Kweyamba

ON THE SOCIAL FRONT

Through his Rotary membership at Acacia Sunset, Kweyamba has engaged in a number of community and capacity building activities.

He has also contributed to improving the quality of health with the ongoing construction project of an accident and trauma ward at Nkozi Hospital.

"I also join free medical camps and carry out financial inclusion trainings," he adds.

Kweyamba is also a climate change activist. Over the last three years, he has been actively involved in tree planting.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Kweyamba attended Nakasero Primary School before joining Gombe SS for his O' and 'If levels.

Later, he enrolled at Makerere University, where he pursued a bachelor's degree in International relations.

INSPIRATION

If granted 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Kweyamba would be excited to meet Christiane Amanpour, who he describes as a woman with a wealth of knowledge, information, insight, and inspiration.

"She has probed the minds of many great leaders, achievers, noble prize winners, innovators, and world leaders and also covered events that have shaped generations and changed world politics as we know it today," he says.

A chance to come back to life as someone else, the banker would  choose to resurrect as Tesla Elon

Musk, for he is a limitless mind that is willing to take risks to see his dreams come to life.

"He has probably failed many times  but his successes have changed the  world and allowed people to see that  with determination and persistence comes success," he adds.

EXPECTATIONS

In the next 10 years, Kweyamba sees himself serving in a global or group executive role, where he will  be formulating strategies,  driving and influencing strategies as well as inspiring others to achieve their life goals and business

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HUMAN RESOURCE

Martha Akatukunda, 32

Head of human resource at Orient Bank

"I serve as the head of human resource and

I am accountable for the overall guidance and management of the human resource service towards the execution of the bank's strategy. I also oversee the development and implementation of people's agenda and related interventions, aimed at aligning the human capital with corporate strategic objectives," she says.

Akatukunda says growing up in a family that is passionate about Rotary, she drew inspiration from her father, who has been a Rotarian for over 30 years.

"I continued with the same passion,  and joined Rotary to be part of the global network creating positive change within our communities," she says.

Rotary has accorded me an opportunity to serve in several charitable projects, ranging from supporting mothers and children, enabling education and fighting diseases within our communities.

"Hard work, determination, and integrity were the values instilled in me from an early age; and these values have enabled me to excel and grow in my professional career."

She says she also handles every task with passion, consistency, and determination to excel at all times, thus enabling her to build trust.

Martha Akatukunda

 
CAREER LADDER

Over the last 10 years, Atukunda has amassed a wealth of experience in human resource in the banking sector. I have worked with Equity Bank, FIN CA Uganda, FIN CA Nigeria and, since January 2018, the head of human resource at Orient Bank," she says.

INSPIRATION

When asked whom she would like to meet for 20 minutes, given a chance, Akatukunda says Indra Nooyi, the first Indian-born American woman, from a humble background, who was able to lead PepsiCo. "I admire her transformative leadership at the helm of a fortune 500 company for over  12 years. This is in addition to the ability to balance work and life, as a wife and mother."

"Ten years from now, I see myself still doing impactful work as a leader in one of the global non-profit organisations, specifically supporting women and children in vulnerable communities as these are the areas I am especially passionate about." If she were to come back to life as someone else Akatukunda would come back as Serena Williams.

"My love for sports naturally births an admiration for her. Serena's determination to succeed, consistency, discipline and a plethora of positive attributes that enabled her to break several barriers explain why I would want to come back as her." Akatukunda says, Serena Williams holds a record for most grand slam titles won by any man or woman in the Open Era, which makes her exceptional.

EDUCATION

Atukunda attended Bweranyangyi Girls' School for O'level and St. Mary's Kitende for Ii level. She then enrolled at Makerere University for a bachelor's of industrial and organisational psychology.

Akatukunda also attained a masters of business administration from Eastern & Southern African Management Institute.

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SALES/ MARKETING
 
Benon Mascot, 39,

Deputy general manager, Motorcare Uganda

Mascot has an excellent track record in banking, sales, and marketing.

His career started at Centenary Bank, Arua, to dfcu Bank, Stanbic, and NC Bank where he headed the asset finance department. He later went to Standard Chartered and finally Barclays Bank, before joining the car sales business at Motorcare Uganda, where he has excelled tremendously.

He is in charge of the company's sales and marketing.

While at Stanbic Bank, Mascot won employee of the year award, year after year and at Standard

Chartered Bank, he won the best salesman of the year 2017.

"I am not misled by the fancy titles the system has given us. I wake up every day to ensure that another new Nissan vehicle gets and remains on the road," he says.

Mascot is also the founder of George the Poet Foundation and The Gurus; both of which offer free career guidance and mentorship to students especially those in schools upcountry.

On what makes him tick, the 39-year-old says he plans ahead, sets clear goals, values relationships and is also driven by the personal need to always do better.

Similarly, he believes in providing exceptional service to the people he meets along the way while executing his duties and this he has done throughout his career.

EDUCATION

Mascot attended Bishop Comboni College School and Muntuyera

High School for his O' and A' levels respectively, before joining the Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics at Makerere University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in quantitative economics. He also holds a master's degree in business administration from Heriot-Watt University.

Benon Mascot

 
CAREER LADDER

Before he joined the automobile industry, Mascot had had an industrious 14 years of banking career.

"Centenary bank blessed me with my first job as a micro loans officer when I had zero experience from university," he recollects. After three years, he got another opportunity with dfcu bank where he joined as a relationship manager in charge of leasing and mortgages.

From there, he moved to Stanbic Bank as a vehicle leasing consultant.

"I got another interesting opportunity to be a founding head of asset finance at NC Bank Uganda, which I later left for Standard Chartered Bank," Mascot says.

On how he crossed to the automobile industry, he says the best years in banking had a lot to do with financing of vehicles, which birthed his love for cars.

He wanted to get more exposed to the automobile industry.

"There would never have been a greater opportunity than joining Motorcare," he explains.

INSPIRED COMMUNITY

Together with a few friends, Mascot founded The Gurus Foundation.

They reach out to schools by providing free counselling, exposure, mentorship and career guidance.

If granted 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Mascot would spend them with US president Donald Trump for, regardless of his shortfalls, Trump seems to achieve anything he sets his eyes on.

He is a successful businessman, who also chose to be a Hollywood star and he became. He chose to be president and not just a president, but a president of the greatest nation on earth and he became.

Mascot wonders how Trump does his things.

A chance at reincarnation, the father of two would ask to come back to life as himself.

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ACCOUNTING

Peace Kabatangare 31, Chief Internal Auditor, Vision Group

Kabatangare had never dreamt of doing accounting. Being a scientist, her eyes were focused on agriculture, a reason she graduated with a bachelor's degree in agricultural land use and management.

The closest she had gotten to the accounting field was in being related to accountants.

Today, she is the chief internal auditor at Vision Group.

She also holds the qualifi cations of ACCA and IIA. She was awarded best affiliate (top 3) in the ACCA December 2013 sitting as well as top student for a number of ACCA exams.

"I was one of the only three successful candidates of the first-ever ACCA-IIA Challenge in 2015," she reveals.

Kabatangare also had further training in governance, risk management, strategy and leadership.

"I am also a member of the ACCA Member's Network Panel and support the technical and social committees," she explains.

Kabatangare's job at Vision Group entails leading a team of auditors that support the board to execute its governance mandate and the business to achieve its objectives.

"We employ a systematic approach to evaluate and provide independent assurance over governance, risk management and internal controls of the company," Kabatangare explains.

She is quick to appreciate working in a business that recognises the correlation between good governance and sustainable business, as well as the pivotal role of Internal audit in that equation.

On what makes her outstanding, the mother of one says she believes there are only possibilities and that we are our only limitation to whatever it is we want to do or have to be.

"I approach my life and all tasks with resolve, clear focus on the end result and willingness to try and fail but try again," she shares, adding, "Many a time, we disadvantage ourselves with self-doubt, lack of preparedness, laziness and negativity.

Eliminate these and the sky will be the limit." Kabatangare also carries a firm belief that with the right people and teamwork, one can go far.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Kabatangare attended Buganda Road Primary School, before joining Gayaza High School.

Thereafter, she graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in agricultural land use and management from Makerere University and a Master's in business administration from Edinburgh school of business.

GOING UP THE CAREER LADDER

Kabatangare began her career with Ernst & Young, audit firm in 2010.

She was taken into their associate programme and later confirmed into the assurance arm of the firm. "This began my audit and accounting journey," she recollects.

After vigorous training and greatly enriching experience at the audit firm, she left to join Lafarge Holcim (Hima Cement) as an internal auditor and, thereafter, aBi Trust and Finance as an internal audit manager.

During this time, Kabatangare also started several businesses, including Exquisite Bridal, a poultry farm, and a consulting firm, among others. "

In 2017, she moved to Ivory Coast to support her husband, who worked with the African Development Bank.

Consulting out of Abidjan, the auditor worked with a number of firms, including Diamond Consulting Group that she supported to execute an audit for the Global Fund country project in Myanmar, South East Asia.

Peace Kabatangare

 
IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY

"I regularly run drives to fundraise for and collect items to donate to the community," she says.

Kabatangare does this annually with the support of her friends and family and together, they have reached out to teenage mothers, refugees, abandoned babies and other vulnerable groups.

She is also passionate about maternal health, having experienced first-hand the difficulties mothers face in Uganda through volunteering with a number of maternal health organisations.

Next year, her focus will be on fundraising for Mama Imara at Amani Family Health Centre, a maternal health centre focused on providing quality health care to pregnant women in Kanyogoga slum in Namuwongo and surrounding areas. She is also conscious about helping young women live meaningful lives. She employs some in her businesses at Exquisite Bridal.

Kabatangare also uses her businesses as a training ground to transfer entrepreneurial and survival skills

INSPIRATION

Given 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Kabatangare would want to meet Arsène Wenger, the former manager for British football club, Arsenal.

"I have always admired his wit, resilience, and calmness amid negativity," she says.

For a chance at resurrection, she would choose to come back as Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation.

FUTURE

In the next ten years, Kabatangare envisions making a difference either as a thought leader, subject matter expert or running a large social enterprise founded on the principles of ethical and sustainable business.

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CATERING

James Etobo, 30, proprietor, Classic Baking And Catering Uganda

Etobo is an enthusiastic entrepreneur, who ventured out early in life to found Classic Baking and Catering Uganda, where he offers baking and cooking services for various events in different parts of Kampala.

He also runs a baking shop (Cake Villa) and catering school, which offers diploma and certificate courses, in collaboration with public institutions.

The 30-year-old has trained over 200 youth in baking and cooking. They have since started their own businesses where they employ several other Ugandans.

In this way, Etobo has helped in reducing unemployment. His business employs 20 people directly and many others indirectly.

These include administrators, chefs, and trainers, among others. Etobo says he is timeconcisous quality-oriented, honest and always direct to the point.

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

He pursued his primary education at Mawero Primary School in Busia district.

For his O' level, he attended Busia and St. Peter's College, Tororo, before joining Naalya SSS, Namugongo for his A' level.

Thereafter, Etobo enrolled at Makerere University Business School for a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship and small business management.

CAREER JOURNEY

Etobo started working while in his Senior Six vacation after he was retained to help out as a divinity teaching assistant at Naalya SS in 2011. This was because he was one of the best students in his class.

When he joined university, he went ahead to win the post of deputy prime minister and around that time, he was also earning an income from being a hostel manager.

"When I graduated, I was head-hunted to manage TNT supermarket. I helped to put in place systems, but resigned over workload," he recalls.

Etobo later secured a job as administrator at Cooking School Uganda between 2015 and 2017.

The story was not different from his managerial job at the supermarket. He gave the job his all; sometimes working seven days a week and serving different roles.

"I was exhausted but had nothing to show for it. I realised that I had all it takes to start my own business," he explains.

At the end of 2017, Etobo resigned to face the world of business. However, he had no capital because he had failed to save from his meagre salary.

Etobo, however, had the determination, administrative and business skills. With a sh1.5m loan from his sister, he bought an oven. And with sh2m from his brother, he paid rent and bought materials as well.

Then, with that he was good to start Classic Baking and Catering Uganda. Come March next year, the business will be making three years of steady growth.

Ames Etobo

 
INSPIRATION

When granted 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Etobo would spend it with Ugandan businessman Omar Mandela, who has built an empire from scratch through back and forward linkages.

Given a chance to come back to life, he would opt to live as Lionel Messi for he is so focused and efficient.

PLANS

Ten years from now, Etobo envisions owning a top café and restaurant in Kampala, besides having a top cookery and baking school. He also hopes to have the best cake and catering services in the country.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Ten years from now, Etobo envisions owning a top café and restaurant in Kampala, besides having a top cookery and baking school to his name plus the best cake and catering services in the country.