dfcu makes new senior appointments

dfcu Limited, the company, and dfcu Bank have made appointments for three major positions.

Dr. Winifred Mary Tarinyeba Kiryabwire has been appointed as the new Chairperson of dfcu Bank Limited, with effect from 01st April 2022. She replaces Jimmy Mugerwa, who moves to dfcu Limited, the holding company for the bank.

Winifred is a lawyer with over 20 years’ experience and expertise in corporate law, corporate governance and financial sector regulation. She is a certified director with the Institute of Directors of UK and has wide experience in governance and oversight responsibilities in the public, private and not-for profit sectors as well as global professional and standard setting bodies.

She was the inaugural chairperson of the Women Business Advisory Council of dfcu. She subsequently joined dfcu Limited as a non- executive director and in 2019, was appointed to the dfcu bank Board as non- executive director. She has previously served on the boards of FSDU, African Alliance, Makerere University Holdings, Gatsby Microfinance, Basic Needs Uganda as well as member of the Council of Mbarara University of Science and Technology and member of the Public Sector Internal Audit Committee. 

Winifred recently concluded her term of office as member of the New York based International Ethics Standard Board (IESBA) where she chaired the Emerging Issues and Outreach Committee. She is a member of INSOL International, International Insolvency Institute and Uganda Law Society.

She is an Associate Professor of Law at the School of Law, Makerere University and a fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences. She holds a Doctor of Science of Law degree (JSD) and Master of Science of Law degree (JSM) from Stanford University, USA as well as a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) from Cambridge University, a Postgraduate diploma in Legal Practice (PGDLP) from the Law Development Centre; and Bachelor of Laws degree (L.L.B) from Makerere University.    

On the other hand, Jimmy Douglas Mugerwa has been appointed as a director and Chairman Board of Directors of dfcu Limited to fill a casual vacancy following the early retirement of Dr. Elly Karuhanga.

Jimmy is a Senior Business leader with over 27 years’ experience across Africa and Europe. He has a strong background in Government relations as well as highly developed commercial skills.

Until recently, he served on the Board of dfcu Bank Limited, seven of which, he was its chairman. He has also served Group Africa Advisor / Chair Uganda for Tullow Oil Plc in London and Managing director for Tullow Oil in Uganda for 8 years. Prior to this, he worked for over 19 years for Royal Dutch Shell in senior business leadership positions across several countries in Africa and Europe, including being the Senior regional advisor for Sub Saharan Africa; Shell Africa Retail Marketing manager; General Manager for Shell East Africa/ Country Chair for Kenya Shell; Retail Manager in Ghana.

He is an experienced Independent Non- Executive Director and Chair serving on several boards including Mengo Hospital, Jubilee Allianz Insurance Company, East African Breweries Limited, Uganda Breweries Limited, and Buganda Investments and Commercial Undertakings.

Additionally, Dr. Echookit Akello Christine has been appointed as a director of dfcu Limited, the mother company to dfcu Bank Limited to fill a casual vacancy following the resignation of Mr. Albert Jonkergouw.

Jonkergouw has resigned as a regulatory requirement at the subsidiary dfcu Bank Limited, where he remains a Director.

Christine is an advocate of the Courts of Judicature in Uganda and holds a PhD in Business and Economics, with a major in Coaching and Leadership. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute of the United Kingdom (formerly “Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators” or ICSA). She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Laws (LL.M).

She previously served as the Deputy Executive Director of NEMA providing leadership, corporate and strategic guidance, as well as advising on organizational strategic positioning and functionality, organizational culture and organisational structure.

She possesses 24 years working experience having served in various entities including NEMA, URA, UCB (currently Stanbic Bank) and Uganda Industrial Properties Limited.