If the first part of this series was about how the madmen stumbled into the machine, and the second about how the money broke it, this part is about what the machine does to the people inside it. Not the awards. Not the case studies. The bodies. The marriages. The minds. On a pitch night in Kampala, somewhere between midnight and 3 am, the city goes quiet, but the minds behind the advertising agencies get louder. A designer is on revision 17 of a key visual. A copywriter is arguing with themselves over whether “unlock” or “unleash” feels more premium….
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Rashmi Pillai will become Chief Executive Officer of Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Kenya in February 2026, succeeding Tamara Cook, who has led the organisation since 2019. Pillai is a global executive with more than 19 years of experience in impact investing and digital financial services. She is an expert in inclusive and competitive financial markets development and co-founded the Sankalp Forum, a social impact platform established in 2009. The forum expanded from India into several countries in Asia and East Africa. Pillai also brings deep experience in financial-sector policy and regulation, with work spanning Africa and South Asia. She has…
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To understand Stevens Mwanje is to understand the balance between numbers and humanity. A finance professional of 30 years, Mwanje has built a career defined by quiet discipline, strategic clarity, and a deep respect for people. Since joining NSSF in 2010 and later becoming CFO in 2017, he has emerged as one of the institution’s most influential leaders, shaping culture, strengthening systems, and mentoring future executives. In this interview with CEO East Africa Magazine, he opens up about his personal journey, the lessons that shaped him, and how he keeps teams performing at their best. How do you keep up…
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From the small town of Kisumu to the bustling streets of Kampala, Vinay Dawda’s business story began long before he was born. His grandfather left India in the early 1900s, settling in Kisumu, Kenya, in search of business opportunities. In the 1960s, Vinay’s father, Mr Hasmukh Dawda, alongside his brothers, launched what would later become House of Dawda. At a time when household needs were primarily basic kitchen items, the family ventured into the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) space. It pioneered successful brands in biscuits, candy, and salt across Kenya. Vinay, a third-generation East African Asian entrepreneur, completed most of…
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The National Secondary Schools’ Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) Festival has always been more than just a competition—it is a celebration of culture, creativity, and innovation. Each year, it brings together schools, learners, and communities in a vibrant display of talent and unity. This year’s festival finale, to be held at King’s College, Buddo, continues the tradition of blending artistic expression with national values under five powerful themes.Among these, “SchoolPay: Transforming Education Services Through Technology” stands out as a symbol of the digital revolution shaping Uganda’s education sector. Why SchoolPay? For years, SchoolPay has worked with the Ministry of Education and Sports…
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Shantal was ready for the next move, having put in 15 years and saved the company a $2m loss, coupled with turning around a flailing portfolio. During her tenure as Chief Finance Officer, the company cut regional costs by 15% and raked in profit for the first time in five years. She had surely put in some work. Never playing politics, yet mentoring others in her department, for once, the finance department was pleasant to work in. So, when the group finance officer position fell vacant, everyone knew that she was the best fit because she had paid her dues….
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“This is a transformative synergy of the financial and education sectors,” said Denis Kizito, Director of Market Supervision at the Capital Markets Authority. Speaking at the launch of SchoolPay Savings at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, he said, “It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together Sanlam, FinCom, and Airtel.” The burden of school fees, Kizito said, remains a challenge despite education being crucial. Therefore, he noted the solution partly addresses that challenge by providing a simple and convenient way to save.” A shift from long queues to seamless payments In the early 2000s, term openings were often marked…
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Not every entrepreneur faces the same barriers. While some struggle to access financing, others—like Ian Clarke—have found ways to navigate the system and unlock new opportunities. After stepping away from…
Josephine Olok’s father wanted her to do something like engineering, but her love for tech and computers told her different things. She had an in-depth desire to work with machines and to create and innovate, which called her to technology. “I was drawn to STEM from a young age because I loved math and sciences. I had a fascination with technology and problem-solving,” she says. And while her father’s hopes were dashed, he ultimately empowered her, which speaks about the power of family support in achieving dreams. “I am currently the director and co-founder of LumJo Consultants, a company established…
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From the humble days at DFCU Bank as a direct sales executive to enabling homeownership through mortgage financing at Stanbic Bank, it was clear that Brian Mutungi Tukahirwa had a gift for sales, anchored in a deeper mission to improve lives. His journey later led him to Housing Finance Bank, where he advanced the institution’s financial inclusion mandate by designing customer-centric solutions through agent banking. “I was riding on the first-ever shared platform to pivot into the Fintech space. Here, I supported financial institutions to enhance their financial inclusion through robust agent and card solutions at Interswitch East Africa,” he…
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