KAMPALA: The 2026 Stanbic Economic Forum under the theme, ‘Uganda’s Inflection Point: Competing in a Rewired Global Economy’, will be streamed live on the bank’s YouTube channel on February 12, starting at 8.30 am.
Before the end of this year, Uganda is scheduled to start commercial sales of its crude reserves located in western Uganda. This is viewed as an inflection point due to the expected accelerated GDP growth rate in the foreseeable future.
However, the country is not immune to the current geo-political tensions affecting international trade and investment.
A key highlight of the Forum will be insights from Jibran Qureishi, Standard Bank Group’s Head of Africa Regions Economic Research, who will share perspectives on regional and global economic trends shaping Africa’s growth trajectory.
Bethuel Karanja, Head of Global Markets at Stanbic Bank Uganda said the Forum comes at a time when deliberate alignment between policy, private capital, and global opportunity is critical.
He said, “At Stanbic Bank, we say Uganda is our home, and we take seriously our responsibility to drive her growth. As the country approaches this inflection point, platforms like the Stanbic Economic Forum are essential in fostering dialogue that supports informed decision-making, long-term investment, and economic transformation.”
Karanja said the Forum reflects the bank’s continued commitment to convening thought leadership and enabling partnerships that support Uganda’s development agenda.
“As a leading financial institution in the country, Stanbic Bank plays a key role in mobilising capital, supporting trade and infrastructure, and enabling businesses to scale competitively within the region and beyond,” he said.
For the past five years, Stanbic Bank has convened stakeholders from the public and private sectors to assess Uganda’s economic prospects and policy priorities. This year’s Forum will bring together policymakers, business leaders, and economic experts to examine how Uganda can strengthen competitiveness and unlock sustainable growth in an increasingly complex global environment.
Discussions will also focus on national planning priorities, emerging investment opportunities, and the role of capital in driving business competitiveness.
