LEAD Convention returns to Kampala with Dr Martin Oduor-Otieno set to headline leadership summit

April 24, 2026 in Business by Editor

Governance expert and executive coach Dr Martin Oduor-Otieno will headline the LEAD Convention 2026 in Kampala, where he is also expected to launch his latest book, The Humanised Leader, as East Africa’s corporate leaders gather to discuss resilience, risk and responsible leadership.

 

The League of East African Directors (LEAD) is bringing back its flagship annual leadership gathering with a message for the region’s corporate boardrooms that the future of business leadership must be both resilient and deeply human.

The LEAD Convention 2026, set for April 30 in Kampala, will be headlined by renowned governance expert, executive coach and business advisor Dr Martin Oduor-Otieno, who is also expected to launch his latest book, The Humanised Leader, during the event.

The convention returns after a one-year break and is expected to draw more than 250 senior executives, board chairpersons, regulators, investors and policymakers from across East Africa for discussions around leadership, governance and institutional resilience.

This year’s theme, “Future Proofing Business: Risk, Resilience and Responsibility – Leading Through Uncertainty,” reflects the increasingly complex environment facing businesses across the region—from political transitions and energy shocks to global economic volatility and the emerging opportunities tied to Uganda’s oil and gas sector.

Dr Oduor-Otieno, a respected boardroom strategist with decades of experience in leadership development and organisational transformation, is expected to anchor the discussions with a keynote focused on performance, empathy and sustainable leadership.

He currently serves as a Business Advisor and Executive Coach at Leadership Group Limited and has worked extensively with senior executives and boards across Africa, particularly in banking and financial services.

His influence in governance circles has grown through his work helping institutions navigate complexity, strengthen strategy execution and improve executive effectiveness.

LEAD says his keynote will offer practical insights into how leaders can build high-performing organisations without losing sight of people and culture.

In what organisers describe as one of the major highlights of this year’s convention, Dr Oduor-Otieno will also officially launch The Humanised Leader, a book that challenges traditional leadership models and argues for a more people-centred approach to executive decision-making.

The publication draws heavily on Ubuntu—the African philosophy of “I am because we are”—and positions empathy, authenticity and servant leadership as essential tools for modern institutions.

Rather than leadership driven solely by hierarchy and authority, the book advocates for influence built on trust, shared purpose and emotional intelligence.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Oduor-Otieno said the message of the book aligns directly with the kind of leadership East Africa’s business environment now requires.

“Real leadership is not about titles or power, but about uplifting people: building trust, empathy and shared purpose,” he said.

“As I look forward to my return to a place I now call my second home, I look forward to meeting business and corporate leaders in Kampala and sharing more at the LEAD Convention 2026.”

For LEAD Chair Gertrude Wamala Karugaba, the return of the convention—and Dr Oduor-Otieno’s presence in particular—signals an effort to strengthen leadership capacity at a time when governance quality is becoming increasingly linked to business survival.

Karugaba, who also serves as Chief Legal Officer at Equity Group Holdings Plc, said the keynote speaker would significantly raise the intellectual and professional value of this year’s gathering.

“Delegates will gain practical leadership insights applicable to boardrooms, executive leadership, institutional governance and organisational transformation,” she said.

“We strongly believe his presence reinforces LEAD Convention’s mission to strengthen leadership capacity as a driver of economic growth, institutional resilience and sustainable development across East Africa.”

LEAD Chief Executive Officer Trevor Ariho said the convention is designed as more than a conference—it is intended as a strategic platform for high-level decision-makers navigating an increasingly volatile operating environment.

He pointed to uncertainty around global peace, rising energy costs, political shifts and Uganda’s oil economy as issues already sitting on executive desks.

“This year’s convention brings together leaders who are grappling with a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous business environment,” Ariho said.

“Delegates will leave better equipped to handle the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the modern business environment.”

The convention will be held at the recently renovated Arirang Hotel along Kyadondo Road, running from 7:30am to 1:00pm, with organisers reporting that more than 90 percent of tickets have already been sold.

That early demand reflects growing appetite for structured conversations around governance and executive leadership, particularly as businesses face pressure to balance profitability with sustainability, compliance and stakeholder trust.

Supported by major institutions including Centenary Bank, Stanbic Bank, NSSF, Uganda Tourism Board and Nation Media Group, the event is positioning itself as one of the region’s premier boardroom conversations.