Ugandans Excelling Abroad: Meet Gloria Evelyn Byamugisha, the Group Chief Human Resource Officer at Dangote Cement PLC.

In the world of human resources, few names resonate as powerfully as Gloria Evelyn Byamugisha. With over two decades of experience, Gloria has carved a niche for herself as a transformative leader, currently serving as the Group Chief Human Resource Officer at Dangote Cement PLC, a cornerstone of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate, the Dangote Group. Her journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to talent development, organizational change, and strategic leadership in an ever-evolving business environment.

Born and raised in Uganda, Gloria’s academic journey began at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) Nkozi, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Marketing and Management. This foundational education laid the groundwork for her future endeavours in business and human resources graduating in 1998.

Eager to expand her expertise, Gloria pursued an MBA in Finance and Management from the University of Westminster, equipping her with a unique blend of financial acumen and HR proficiency.

Her quest for knowledge didn’t stop there. Gloria went on to earn a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Bedfordshire in 2006 and a Senior Management Certificate in Strategic Business Analysis from the prestigious London Business School in 2008. These qualifications underscore her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth, traits that have defined her illustrious career.

Gloria’s professional journey began in Uganda, where she served as a Human Resources Manager at Celtel, a leading telecommunications company for one year from 2006 to 2007. In this role, she honed her skills in talent management and organizational culture. She was responsible for the overall talent management strategy, organisational change and culture.

In 2007, she transitioned to Bharti Airtel where she spent the next seven years. She started out as the Human Resources Director from January 2007 to September 2012 where she designed the overall HR strategy of the company. This period was vital for Bharti Airtel as it fully expanded to Uganda through an acquisition of Gloria’s former workplace, Celtel in 2010 although the company had since rebranded to Zain.

In August 2012, she became the group Human Resources Director swapping Kampala for Nairobi.

After a successful stint at Airtel, Gloria took on the role of Group Human Resources Director at Equity Bank Limited in Kenya.

Equity Bank Kenya Limited is the second-largest bank in Kenya, with assets amounting to approximately USD 7.77 billion, accounting for over 10% of the country’s banking market share. It follows KCB Bank, which leads with an asset base of about USD 10.84 billion, making Equity Bank a significant player in the competitive Kenyan banking sector.

At Equity Bank, she oversaw human capital requirements across diverse sectors, including financial services and insurance. Her leadership was instrumental in driving organizational change and fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.

In 2018, Gloria’s career took another leap forward when she was appointed Regional HR Head for Ecobank Nigeria and the East African Community (EAC).

In this capacity, she designed and implemented HR strategies across multiple countries, focusing on organizational redesign and change management. Her ability to align HR practices with overarching business goals ensured sustained performance improvements across the region.

In October 2021, Gloria joined Dangote Cement PLC as the Group’s Chief Human Resource Officer, marking a significant milestone in her career. Dangote Cement, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, is Africa’s largest cement producer and a key player in the continent’s construction industry.

With an annual revenue exceeding $1 billion from its cement division alone, the company is a cornerstone of Africa’s industrial growth. It is also Nigeria’s second-largest employer, only behind the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has employees from over 20 nationalities and over 50 languages spoken.

The Dangote Group, founded by Aliko Dangote in the late 1970s, is a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning cement production, sugar refining, flour milling, salt processing, oil and gas exploration, and real estate development.

Its cement division, Dangote Cement, operates in 10 African countries and boasts a production capacity of over 48 million metric tons annually. The company’s ambitious expansion plans are underpinned by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and economic development across the continent.

As Group Chief HR Officer, Gloria is tasked with shaping the workforce strategy that supports Dangote Cement’s growth ambitions. Her leadership is characterized by a focus on fostering an inclusive workplace culture, nurturing talent, and promoting employee engagement.

She emphasizes the importance of aligning HR initiatives with business objectives, ensuring that the company remains competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Gloria is a passionate advocate for leadership development. She is a certified trainer for the Extraordinary Leader Program by Louis Allen, a testament to her commitment to fostering leadership excellence within organizations. Her approach combines strategic thinking with practical implementation, enabling organizations to adapt to new challenges effectively.