Who are Alice Kariuki and Neeraj Jain, the New Airtel Uganda Board Directors? Airtel Uganda strengthens its governance bench with two seasoned leaders, marrying regulatory acumen and financial discipline to steer the telecom through a fast-evolving digital and competitive landscape.

Airtel Uganda Limited has announced the appointment of Mrs. Alice Wangari Kariuki and Mr. Neeraj Jain as new Non-Executive Directors, filling board vacancies left by the departure of Mr. Alok Bafna and Mr. Ramakrishna Lella, who stepped down after more than six years of distinguished service.

The changes, effective 27 August 2025, were disclosed in a notice to the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) in line with the exchange’s listing rules.

The outgoing directors, both inaugural members of the Risk and Audit Committee, were credited with helping shape Airtel Uganda’s strategic, governance, and compliance agenda.

In welcoming the new appointees, the Board expressed confidence that Kariuki and Jain would bring valuable perspectives to the company’s governance and long-term strategic direction.

Alice Wangari Kariuki — Legal & Regulatory Strategist

Alice Kariuki is an accomplished legal and regulatory professional with over 20 years of senior management experience in telecommunications and digital finance. She currently serves as Senior Vice President – Public Policy at Airtel Africa plc, where she provides governance, legal, regulatory, and policy support to 14 operations across the group.

Before joining Airtel Africa Group’s headquarters team, Kariuki served as Director, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at Airtel Networks Kenya Limited, where she led on matters of corporate governance, licensing, stakeholder engagement, compliance, competition law, and government relations.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nairobi, and is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya.

Her blend of legal expertise, governance experience, and pan-African regulatory insight positions her to strengthen Airtel Uganda’s engagement with policymakers, regulators, and strategic partners.

Neeraj Jain — Finance & Governance Leader

Neeraj Jain brings more than two decades of experience in finance, governance, and telecommunications. He is currently Business Controller – B2C (Business to Consumer) at Airtel Africa plc, where he has played a key role in shaping the group’s financial discipline and governance structures.

Previously, Jain served as Group Financial Controller and Group Operations Controller at Airtel Africa, overseeing major milestones such as the company’s listing on the London Stock Exchange. He has been instrumental in building the group’s financial controls and operational processes.

Before joining Airtel Africa, Jain held multiple senior management roles within the Bharti Group in India, spanning financial reporting, business planning, and strategic decision support. He is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Calcutta University.

His deep financial expertise, combined with cross-market operational experience, will be vital in enhancing Airtel Uganda’s financial governance and strategic growth execution.

Strategic Significance of the Appointments

The appointments come at a time when Airtel Uganda, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa plc, continues to navigate a dynamic telecom landscape shaped by evolving regulation, intensifying competition, and the growing convergence of telecoms and digital financial services.

With Kariuki’s regulatory acumen and Jain’s financial governance expertise, the board gains a complementary blend of skills to support long-term strategic direction, compliance assurance, and stakeholder engagement.