A candid conversation with Wim, MTN Uganda’s ex-CEO on his 6 years running Uganda’s largest company—the highs and lows; the wins and misses and lessons learnt Wim Vanhelleputte has been the MTN Uganda CEO from August 2016, until July 2022 when he was promoted to a regional role as Operating Executive for the MTN Group’s WECA Markets of Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville. He assumed office, on August 1, 2022. Wim presided over some of the telco’s rosiest years, as well as some of the most challenging episodes in its 24-year history, including the renewal of its operating license, He has also led the company through many firsts, including its much-awaited listing on the Uganda Securities Exchange on December 06th 2021. He also led the company to cross the UGX2 trillion mark in operating revenue- as of the end of 2021, MTN Uganda’s revenues, crossed the UGX2 trillion mark, reaching UGX2.06 trillion! Total assets, also crossed UGX3 trillion, reaching UGX3.3 trillion and customers surpassed 15 million, closing the year at 15.7 million! During Wim’s 6 years at MTN, he has grown MTN’s revenue by 57% from UGX1.308 trillion in 2016, to UGX2.060 trillion at the end of 2021- a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 8%. During this time MTN’s net profit has grown from UGX96 billion to UGX340 billion, a growth of 254% and a CAGR of 23%! MTN has also transformed from a UGX1.509 trillion asset company to well over UGX3.298 trillion! CEO East Africa Magazine’s Executive Editor, Muhereza Kyamutetera joined a team of other journalists for a conversation with the amiable Wim on his six years at MTN focusing on his wins, challenges, misses as well as highs and lows. He also shared some candid feedback on what needs to be done to accelerate both the growth and the mutual benefits of the dynamic telco and fintech economy in Uganda.