Last week’s signing between the Government of Uganda and Standard Chartered Bank offered a reminder of the institution’s enduring strength. The €641.1 million (UGX 2.75 trillion) financing package, covering power transmission, strategic water projects, and critical oil roads, underscored Standard Chartered’s continued ability to mobilise long-tenor, cross-border capital for projects few banks in Uganda can structure or underwrite. This capability is anchored in the balance sheet and credibility of its global parent. It is also a reminder that although the bank has chosen strategic shrinkage, by agreeing to sell its retail and wealth business to Absa Uganda, it remains a…
Sanjay Rughani and the Test of a Leaner Standard Chartered Bank Standard Chartered Bank is in the middle of a deliberate transformation: shrinking its retail footprint, sharpening its corporate and investment banking focus, and repositioning itself for Uganda’s next investment cycle. At the centre of that shift is Sanjay Rughani, whose tenure will be defined less by strategy articulation than by execution. Backed by a powerful global parent yet operating in an increasingly competitive local market, Rughani must now prove that a leaner Standard Chartered can convert focus into sustainable profits, disciplined returns, and enduring relevance. With the exit from retail banking underway and performance already under pressure, 2026 will be a pivotal year in determining whether this recalibration delivers on its promise.

Sanjay Rughani faces his defining test as Standard Chartered Uganda exits retail banking: turning a leaner, corporate-focused strategy into sustainable profits, disciplined returns, and lasting relevance in a tougher market.



