Centenary Bank has entered a new chapter after longtime Managing Director Fabian Kasi officially handed over leadership to Godfrey Byekwaso, ending a 16-year tenure that transformed the institution into Uganda’s largest commercial microfinance bank and one of the country’s most influential financial institutions.
The leadership transition comes at a time when Uganda’s banking industry is experiencing rapid digital transformation, growing competition and increasing demand for financial inclusion, SME financing and agricultural lending.
For customers, investors and the wider business community, the handover signals continuity rather than change, with the incoming Managing Director pledging to build on the bank’s strong foundation while accelerating innovation and customer service.
Speaking during the bank’s Leadership Transition Media Breakfast, Byekwaso assured customers, regulators and shareholders that Centenary Bank would remain committed to delivering reliable financial solutions while preserving the trust it has built over more than four decades.
“I’m taking over an institution that is already progressing, with a strong foundation,” he said, adding that trust remains the bank’s greatest asset and customers should expect continued and improved service under his leadership.
He also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), microfinance businesses and Uganda’s broader economic transformation agenda.
Byekwaso said the bank will continue working closely with government and development partners to finance sectors that are critical to economic growth, while investing more in technology, customer experience and innovation.
He noted that customers are increasingly demanding faster, more convenient and secure banking services, making digital innovation and operational efficiency central to Centenary Bank’s next phase of growth.
He also stressed that investment in people remains equally important, saying staff development is essential to maintaining customer trust and delivering quality financial services.
For Fabian Kasi, the transition represents responsible succession planning rather than a departure from the bank’s mission.
After leading the institution for 16 years, Kasi reflected on the importance of leadership built on trust, describing it as the foundation of every successful organisation.
He urged leaders to earn the confidence of the people they lead, understand their aspirations and remain lifelong learners in an increasingly dynamic business environment.
He also emphasised that institutions outlive individuals, noting that leaders are merely stewards entrusted with preserving an organisation’s values and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
“Change is a constant,” Kasi said. “We don’t own institutions. We are supposed to steward them and leave them in a better state than we found them.”
He added that the leadership transition demonstrates Centenary Bank’s commitment to continuity, sustainability and preserving the values that have defined the institution for more than 40 years.
The bank’s Board selected Byekwaso through its succession process after considering his extensive banking experience, including nearly a decade leading Centenary Bank’s finance function before taking on executive leadership responsibilities elsewhere.
Kasi expressed confidence that his successor possesses the experience and leadership required to take the institution to even greater heights.
With Uganda targeting faster economic growth through financial inclusion, digital banking and enterprise development, Centenary Bank’s leadership transition positions one of the country’s largest lenders to continue supporting farmers, entrepreneurs, women-led businesses and rural communities while embracing technology and sustainable growth.