The Big Story

Who is Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, the law firm advising the $3 bilion Vodacom-Safaricom and Nedbank-NCBA Bank Deals?

Jeff WintersThe Big StoryJanuary 30, 2026January 30, 2026

When two of East Africa’s largest corporate transactions, together valued at nearly $3 billion, required legal advisers, the mandates converged on a single firm. That firm is Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr…

Finance Trust Bank Transition: What Will Change for Depositors and Borrowers

Paul MurungiBanking & Financial ServicesThe Big StoryJanuary 29, 2026January 31, 2026

Finance Trust Bank has outlined the next phase of its operations after receiving approval from the Bank of Uganda to continue business under a Tier II Credit Institution licence, effective…

Nigeria’s Access Bank Deal to Acquire Uganda’s Finance Trust Bank Falls Apart After Two Years

Paul MurungiBanking & Financial ServicesThe Big StoryJanuary 29, 2026January 30, 2026

What began as one of the most closely watched cross border banking acquisition plans in East Africa has now officially fallen apart.  The proposed takeover of Uganda’s Finance Trust Bank…

A Leaner, Stronger Sector, But at a Price: The UGX150b Rule Behind Uganda’s Four Bank Downgrades and an Exit

The CEO Magazine TeamThe Big StoryJanuary 29, 2026January 29, 2026

When Bank of Uganda, on Thursday (January 29, 2026), announced that Finance Trust Bank had been authorised to transition from a Tier I commercial bank to a Tier II credit…

All Eyes on Mumba Kalifungwa: 9 Months In, Can He Reignite Stanbic’s Growth?

Muhereza KyamuteteraBanking & Financial ServicesThe Big StoryJanuary 29, 2026January 29, 2026

In a few weeks, Stanbic Bank Uganda — the country’s largest commercial bank — will release its full-year 2025 results. If its first-half performance is any indication, the bank is…

Bank of Uganda Approves Finance Trust Bank’s Application to Downgrade to a Credit Institution

Paul MurungiBanking & Financial ServicesThe Big StoryJanuary 29, 2026January 30, 2026

The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has approved the transition of Finance Trust Bank Limited from a Tier I commercial banking licence to a Tier II credit institution licence, marking the…

Dangote Appoints MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita to Fertilizer Board 

Paul MurungiLeadership & GovernanceManufacturing & IndustryThe Big StoryJanuary 28, 2026January 28, 2026

Dangote Industries has appointed MTN Group Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita to the board of its fertilizer business as the company prepares to expand operations and pursue a listing in…

Parliament Questions UGX19 Billion Tax Waiver for Newplan Engineering Firm Linked to Oil and Power Contracts

Paul MurungiEconomy & PolicyEnergy, Oil & GasThe Big StoryJanuary 28, 2026January 28, 2026

Parliament’s Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development has pushed back against a proposal to waive UGX18.86 billion in tax arrears for Kampala-based engineering consultancy Newplan Limited, questioning both the…

UCC Bans Split-Screen Advertising on NBS TV, Sets Precedent for All TV Stations

Paul MurungiMedia & CommunicationThe Big StoryJanuary 28, 2026January 28, 2026

The Uganda Communications Commission has banned NBS Television from airing split-screen adverts during its news and current affairs programmes, ruling that the practice violates the UCC Advertising Standards 2019 and…

CEOs in the Hot Seat: Juliana Kagwa and the High-Stakes Rebuild of Uganda’s Tourism Brand

Jeff WintersThe Big StoryJanuary 27, 2026January 27, 2026

When Juliana Kagwa assumed office as Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) in June 2025, she stepped into one of the most demanding leadership roles, one defined by…