KAMPALA, Uganda – Prominent Ugandan businessman Charles Mbire has challenged entrepreneurs and investors to prioritize integrity and good governance, saying these qualities have become more valuable than physical assets in attracting investment and achieving long-term business success.
Speaking at the inaugural SBG Securities Investor Day in Kampala, Mbire said the modern business environment rewards individuals and companies that build trust, maintain ethical standards and demonstrate sound corporate governance.
“Invest in your character and integrity before you invest in business,” Mbire advised participants. “Financial institutions such as Stanbic Bank will always support individuals with a good reputation, a sound business plan and strong governance.”
Mbire noted that rapid advances in technology have transformed the investment landscape, making credibility, data and trust more important than traditional forms of collateral.
He warned Ugandans against chasing unrealistic investment returns through high-risk schemes, saying many people have lost their savings and, in some cases, their freedom by pursuing quick profits.
Instead, he encouraged especially young investors to embrace regulated investment products that offer stable, long-term growth.
The Investor Day, organised by SBG Securities, a subsidiary of Stanbic Uganda Holdings, sought to promote a shift from a culture of saving to informed investing by exposing Ugandans to opportunities available in the country’s capital markets.
SBG Securities Chief Executive Officer Grace Semakula said the initiative is aimed at equipping Ugandans with the knowledge needed to make informed investment decisions while contributing to national economic growth.
She revealed that the firm’s Umbrella Fund had recorded an impressive 391 percent growth, while Uganda’s collective investment industry has expanded to assets worth Shs5.6 trillion.
“Uganda is gradually shifting from saving alone to embracing investment as a pathway to financial independence,” Semakula said, adding that Investor Day gives participants direct access to financial experts, market insights and investment opportunities.
Economic experts who addressed the event echoed Mbire’s call for financial discipline and long-term planning.
Bank of Uganda Lead Economist Pumla Nabachwa urged young people to take advantage of time by developing consistent saving habits early in life instead of engaging in impulsive spending.
Meanwhile, Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) Director of Supervision and Market Conduct Daisy Lynda Nabakooza encouraged workers to begin preparing for retirement as soon as they start earning.
“It is never too early “and never too late” to start planning for retirement,” she said.
Stanbic Bank Uganda Executive Director for Personal and Private Banking Sam Mwogeza said the bank is investing heavily in digital technology to simplify access to investment products.
He explained that customers can now access investment services more conveniently through digital platforms without having to visit multiple bank branches.
The inaugural SBG Securities Investor Day marks a significant milestone in efforts to deepen Uganda’s investment culture, with industry leaders expressing optimism that more Ugandans will embrace regulated investment opportunities as a means of building sustainable wealth.
