My ambition as
CEO is to increase
UBA’s market
share by acquiring
new customers
as well as to
improve loyalty
among existing
customers ...”
Uganda offers awide range of
investment opportunities
J
ohnson Agoreyo believes he would have been a world class athlete if he hadn’t chosen a career in banking.
However, he decided quite early that he was going to be a banker and dedicated his energy towards becoming
one of the best. He climbed the corporate ladder in this field to become Group General Manager overseeing UBA’s
Lagos Island, Central and Upper West business in Nigeria before his recent appoint as CEO, UBA Uganda. With a first
degree in Accounting, a Master’s Degree in Finance, and wealth of experience in commercial and corporate banking,
Johnson is set to take UBA Uganda to the top. In this interview, he shares his feelings on his new role as CEO, his plans
for the Bank and key insights into doing business in Uganda and Africa by extension.
Johnson Agoreyo
MD/CEO, UBA Uganda
How did you feel when you were told
you were going to lead the bank’s
operations in Uganda?
I would only describe my initial feeling
about moving to Uganda as bitter-
sweet. It was an exciting thought as a
professional to be given the incredible
task for steering the wheel of UBA
Uganda. Personally it was bound to be
an adventure for me to live and work
in East Africa and that excited me too.
However, that opportunity came with
the reality of having to work away
from my family which is always difficult
for most people including myself.
Did you have any apprehensions
when you were first given the role?
No I did not have any apprehensions
at all. I believe that whenever an
opportunity presents itself, one must
always take it. We can only get better,
professionally and personally, when
we conquer new challenges and
explore new heights.
How did your family react to the news?
My family was understandably stunned
in the very beginning. The thought of
me working away from Nigeria must
have been a difficult one. However,
I have received tremendous support
ever since.
I am forever grateful to my family,
especially my dear wife, for the
unconditional support, wise counsel
and encouragement to rise to the
challenge of the office and to reach
the limits of achievement.
You are in Uganda now. What does it
feel like to be an expatriate? How does
the experience differ from working in
Nigeria?
Uganda is a beautiful country with
some of the friendliest people you
could ever find. In addition to that,
I work with a very supportive and
dedicated team of UBA staff. A
combination of these has magically
helped me to settle in a lot faster than
I had anticipated.
One conclusion I have made in the
few months I have lived in Uganda is
that, wherever you go in Africa, we
are essentially the same. The African
spirit of brotherhood and compassion
remains as alive here as it is back
in Nigeria and across the African
continent.
Workingwith UBA in Uganda comes not
only with the responsibility of leading
the country’s UBA operations; it also
comes with the amazing opportunity
to discover new cultures, food and
places. This is always refreshing.
By Nonso ndunaya
October - December 2016 •
The Lion King
• 21
Growing the Seed
