Mbire: Integrity, not assets, is the new currency of wealth

KAMPALA — Business mogul Charles Mbire delivered a blunt message to Uganda’s investment community on Tuesday: in today’s economy, your reputation is worth more than your balance sheet.

Speaking as keynote speaker at the inaugural SBG Securities Investor Day, hosted by the Stanbic Uganda Holdings subsidiary, Mbire told a room of investors, policymakers and business leaders that trust, ethics and governance now determine who gets funded, who finds partners and who survives long-term in business.

“Invest in your character and integrity before you invest in business,” Mbire said. “Financial institutions such as Stanbic Bank will always support individuals with a good reputation, a sound business plan and strong governance.”

The event, SBG Securities’ first of its kind, was designed to nudge Ugandans away from a savings-only mindset and toward informed investing, bringing together industry figures to break down financial markets and spotlight regulated investment opportunities.

Mbire argued that fast-moving technological change has reshaped business itself, making data, trust and credibility more valuable currency than traditional collateral. He also warned against the lure of high-risk, fast-profit schemes that have wiped out savings — and in some cases led to jail time — for Ugandans chasing unrealistic returns.

“Many people have lost fortunes chasing unrealistic returns,” he said. “Young investors should prioritise well-governed, regulated portfolios that offer stable, long-term growth.”

SBG Securities CEO Grace Semakula said the Investor Day reflects Stanbic Uganda’s broader mission to drive the country’s growth by giving Ugandans the tools to engage confidently with capital markets.

Semakula pointed to the firm’s recent performance as evidence of growing appetite for investment products, including a 391% surge in its Umbrella Fund and an industry-wide jump in assets under management to UGX 5.6 trillion.

“Uganda is gradually shifting from saving alone to embracing investment as a pathway to financial independence,” Semakula said. “Investor Day gives people access to experts, insights and opportunities that can shape their financial future.”

Economists and regulators on hand backed Mbire’s call for discipline. Pumla Nabachwa, Lead Economist at the Bank of Uganda, urged young Ugandans to treat time as their greatest financial asset, encouraging consistent saving over impulsive spending.

Daisy Lynda Nabakooza, Director of Supervision and Market Conduct at URBRA, said retirement planning should start the moment someone begins earning. “It is never too early — and never too late — to start planning for retirement,” she said.

Sam Mwogeza, Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Executive Director for personal and private banking, said the bank is pouring resources into digital tools to widen access to investment services.

“Clients can now access investment services conveniently without visiting multiple branches,” he said. “Our goal is to remove barriers and make investing simple for every Ugandan.”

The inaugural SBG Securities Investor Day marks a notable step in deepening Uganda’s investment culture, as more citizens look beyond traditional savings toward diversified, stable returns.