Ugandan CEOs, business leaders look to the future as they launch Sustainability Centre

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and business leaders in Uganda have launched a Sustainability Centre, which they say will work towards balancing the current and future needs of companies, people and the planet.

This was during the 13th Edition of the CEO Forum 2022 held in Kampala on Wednesday, 07 December 2022. The forum brought together business leaders, CEOs and youth entrepreneurs to discuss accelerated positive transformation in Uganda under the theme “Beyond Sustainability – Strategic Decisions That Matter.”

In his remarks, M. Stephen Mukasa, the Country Team Leader at the CEO Summit Uganda, said the Centre will offer programmes that teach business leaders on how to grow their companies without compromising the planet and the future.

“Why sustainability? This is a phenomenon we need to take seriously.  Sustainability cannot be unpacked in half a day, so we are starting the conversation and we shall carry it forward,” Mr Mukasa said.

“The UN summit in 1987 defines sustainability as taking care of the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to take care of their needs. Are we taking care of the needs today without compromising those who are coming after us? We talked about the famous 3Ps; people, planet, and profit. That is also called the triple bottom line of sustainability. How can we find a common ground among all three?” he added.

Dr Robin Kibuka, a Board Trustee at the CEO Summit, said they are focusing on the sustainability of business, society, and mother earth.

“At the centre of our discussion are the 3Ps. These are profit, people, and planet. Gone are the days when would focus on just profit at the expense of society and the environment,” Dr Kibuka said.

Susan Ngongi Namondo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, said the move by CEOs, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We need to shift from disjointed approaches to mechanisms that bring together groups of companies responding to specific challenges. Together we will need an organized platform to promote dialogue and build synergies among stakeholders and business actors,” she said.

Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister and government focal person for SDGs in Uganda, applauded the business leaders for the move and called on the entire private sector to align their organizational policies to the SDGs.

“Our partnership with the CEO Summit Uganda started last year in 2021 after the  Government of Uganda through the  OPM launched the Uganda Private Sector Platform for Sustainable Development Goals,” Lumumba said.

“I want to thank you for having accepted to work with us and I pray we continue moving together because all our aspirations are the same. I, therefore, call upon all CEOs in the agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, services, Oil and gas, sports, and creative industry to align their organizational policies to the SDGs,” she added.

Ms Dudu Msomi, the CEO of Busara Leadership Partners in South Africa, said sustainability requires a commitment by the Board, the CEO and the Executive/Management level.

“It requires unlearning and learning new ways of leading that consider the quality of the profits and the impact on society and the environment of their decisions, choices & actions,” she said.

“We’ve seen an evolution in terms of the terms that have been used but ultimately what we are trying to do is balance the common good and the self-interest,” she added.

Paul Kavuma, the CEO of Jubilee Allianz Uganda, urged companies to investment in risk management.

“Sustainability is risk…If you are going to sustain your business, you need to engage in risk management. Risk management is not only in books, it is theoretical and practical, and there isn’t a safer place to go than an insurance company. I appreciate the board and the board of trustees at the CEO summit for creating the CEO Sustainability Centre. We wish to promote and make use of it,” he said.