Stanbic Bank’s Women in Tech coding confidence In Next-Gen of IT Leaders
In the high‑stakes world of banking, technology is often seen as the ultimate asset. Yet a persistent myth lingers that the “engine room” of digital innovation is a man’s world. In the male‑dominated corridors of IT, the narrative has long been that technical complexity is a barrier to gender parity. At Stanbic Bank Uganda, however, this script is being rewritten — boldly, and from the top down.
Women at the Helm of IT
As the country’s largest commercial lender, Stanbic naturally commands one of the most robust IT departments in the sector. But the real innovation is not in the servers or the code — it is in the leadership. Despite a workforce that is 65% male, the strategic heartbeat of the department is women‑led, a rarity in African banking.
At the helm is Akot Rita Apel, Chief Information Officer (CIO), supported by a formidable bench of female technical excellence in Diana Agaba Tukundane Head of Cyber Security, Joanita Asio Banda Head of Emerging Technologies, Nakiyingi Rutaagi Helga Head of IT Services Management, and Doreen Munanukye Head of Governance, Risk, and Compliance).
For Rita, this representation is the fruit of a deliberate, long‑term vision. “We are not just occupying space at the table; we are expanding the table itself,” she says. “By leading from the front, we are showing every young girl in Uganda that there is no technical ceiling too high to shatter.”
Coding Confidence, Driving Growth
This leadership has already yielded tangible results. Female representation in the IT department has risen from 28% to 35%, thanks to the Stanbic Women in Tech Programme. Now in its third cohort, the initiative is more than a training ground — it is a bridge between the classroom and the high‑growth digital economy.
Programme Coordinator Joanita Asio Banda describes it as “building a sisterhood of innovators.” Participants echo this impact: Desire Awori, now President of the Alumni Association, recalls being told that “boys get hired first.” Today, she leads with confidence, determined to pay it forward. Aheebwomugisha Sasha Ana calls the programme a “shyness breaker” that gave her the courage to seize opportunities.
The ripple effects extend far beyond the bank. Sylvia Mulomi, Executive Head of People and Culture at Stanbic Bank Uganda, notes that empowering women with future‑ready skills benefits society at large — from urban tech hubs to rural farmers adopting digital tools.
Another programme participant, Nalwoga Majorine now trains machine learning models, while her colleague Nakisanze Deziranta was inspired by the experience to pivot from civil engineering to software. For them, the so‑called glass ceiling has become the new floor.
For Stanbic Bank, this is more than diversity; it is purpose in action. By investing in human capital, Stanbic is fueling Uganda’s growth. Every young woman who gains confidence in coding, every graduate who pivots into tech, becomes part of the country’s economic engine. The future of Uganda’s digital economy is not just being built — it is being built inclusively.
As these young women step into the workforce, they embody the alignment of industry, education, and purpose. They prove that when opportunity meets vision, no Ugandan girl is left behind.