Veronicah Namagembe
Veronicah Gladys Namagembe | |
|---|---|
| Education | MBA from Durham University Business School; MSc in Accounting and Finance and Bachelor of Business Administration from Makerere University; executive education at Harvard Business School, London School of Economics, Yale School of Management, Lagos Business School, Strathmore Business School |
| Occupation(s) | Banking professional, business leader |
| Years active | Over two decades |
| Known for | Managing Director of Pride Microfinance Limited; advancing Uganda’s microfinance industry; promoting financial inclusion and gender parity |
Veronicah Gladys Namagembe is a distinguished Ugandan banking professional and business leader, serving as the current Managing Director of Pride Microfinance Limited (MDI). She is recognized for her influential role in advancing Uganda’s microfinance industry, with a particular emphasis on promoting financial inclusion and gender parity. Namagembe holds the title of Honorary Fellow at the Uganda Institute of Banking & Financial Services and is an active member of the Bible Society of Uganda.
Education
Namagembe earned her MBA from Durham University Business School in the United Kingdom, alongside an MSc in Accounting and Finance and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Makerere University. Additionally, she has participated in executive education programs at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, London School of Economics, Yale School of Management, Lagos Business School, and Strathmore Business School.
Career
Bringing over two decades of experience within Uganda’s financial sector, Namagembe’s career includes tenures at Diamond Trust Bank Uganda and Uganda Women’s Finance Trust, now operating as Finance Trust Bank.
Pride Microfinance Limited (MDI)
Rising to the position of Managing Director at Pride Microfinance, Namagembe is responsible for steering the institution’s strategic direction, operational management, expansion initiatives, and risk oversight in compliance with Bank of Uganda regulations. During her leadership tenure, the company’s equity surged from UGX 6 billion (approximately USD 1.6 million) to UGX 141.7 billion (around USD 38.8 million) by December 2020, serving over 700,000 clients. She champions sustainable growth models and advocates for financial inclusion programs that prioritize women and marginalized groups. Her efforts also emphasize utilizing financial tools to foster gender equality and bolster agricultural productivity to enhance food security.
Under her guidance in 2020/2021, Pride Microfinance earned the Platinum award in Uganda’s Consumers’ Choice Awards for Best Microfinance Institution.
Industry Leadership and Board Service
Namagembe has played key leadership roles within Uganda’s financial landscape, including serving as National President of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda (AMFIU), where she represented microfinance interests nationwide. She is an Executive Committee (EXCO) member of the Uganda Bankers' Association (UBA), advocating on behalf of Tier 2 and Tier 3 microfinance entities.
Her governance experience extends to board appointments such as Lubiri High School and The Uganda Institute of Banking & Financial Services (UIBFS), where she chairs the Finance and Human Resource Committee. Furthermore, she holds the position of Vice Chairperson on the board of Majestic Brands Ltd—the commercial enterprise affiliated with the Buganda Kingdom—and contributes to multiple board committees at Pride Microfinance Limited including Risk, Assets & Liabilities; Compensation, Human Resource, Administration & Procurement; as well as Strategy and Compliance.
Advocacy and Public Engagement
Namagembe actively engages in promoting women’s empowerment and advancing financial inclusion by participating in forums centered on gender equity and leadership development. Her community involvement includes membership in the Rotary Club alongside continued association with the Bible Society of Uganda.
Recognition
Acknowledging her significant contributions to Uganda’s banking and finance sectors, Namagembe was bestowed with an Honorary Fellow distinction by the Uganda Institute of Banking & Financial Services.