Stanbic Economic Forum returns with focus on Uganda’s competitiveness in a shifting global economy

February 5, 2026 in Business, Companies, Finance, Financial Services, Policy by Editor

Stanbic Bank Uganda will host the 2026 Stanbic Economic Forum on February 12, bringing together policymakers, business leaders and economists to examine how Uganda can strengthen its competitiveness as it approaches a critical economic inflection point amid shifting global dynamics.

 

Stanbic Bank Uganda will on February 12 host the 2026 Stanbic Economic Forum, bringing together policymakers, business leaders and economic experts to examine how Uganda can strengthen its competitiveness as global trade, capital flows and geopolitics undergo rapid change.

The Forum, themed “Uganda’s Inflection Point: Competing in a Rewired Global Economy,” will run from 8.30am and will be accessible both in person and via live streaming on Stanbic Bank’s YouTube channel, widening participation beyond the physical venue.

The event comes at a critical juncture for Uganda’s economy. Before the end of 2026, the country is expected to commence commercial sales of crude oil from reserves in western Uganda — a milestone widely viewed as an economic inflection point with the potential to accelerate GDP growth and reshape investment patterns.

However, speakers at the Forum will also interrogate the risks facing the economy, including heightened geopolitical tensions, shifting trade alliances and global financial volatility that continue to influence capital flows into emerging markets.

A key highlight of the Forum will be insights from Jibran Qureishi, Standard Bank Group’s Head of Africa Regions Economic Research, who is expected to provide an outlook on regional and global economic trends shaping Africa’s growth trajectory and investment prospects.

According to Bethuel Karanja, Head of Global Markets at Stanbic Bank Uganda, the Forum is designed to promote deliberate alignment between policy, private capital and global opportunity at a time when such coordination is increasingly critical.

“At Stanbic Bank, we say Uganda is our home, and we take seriously our responsibility to drive her growth,” Karanja said. “As the country approaches this inflection point, platforms like the Stanbic Economic Forum are essential in fostering dialogue that supports informed decision-making, long-term investment and economic transformation.”

Karanja said the Forum reflects Stanbic Bank’s ongoing commitment to convening thought leadership and enabling partnerships that advance Uganda’s development agenda.

“As a leading financial institution in the country, Stanbic Bank plays a key role in mobilising capital, supporting trade and infrastructure, and enabling businesses to scale competitively within the region and beyond,” he said.

Now in its sixth year, the Stanbic Economic Forum has become a key platform for structured engagement between the public and private sectors. Over the past five years, the bank has convened stakeholders annually to assess Uganda’s economic prospects, policy priorities and investment climate.

This year’s discussions will focus on national planning priorities, emerging investment opportunities and the role of capital markets, banking and private investment in driving business competitiveness and sustainable growth in an increasingly complex global environment.

Stakeholders will have the opportunity to attend physically or follow the proceedings live online, reinforcing the Forum’s role as a national platform for shaping economic debate at a pivotal moment for Uganda.