Journey to the Boardroom (JTB) marked a major milestone on April 25 with a glamorous black-tie event at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, celebrating the achievements of its 2025 cohort and unveiling new initiatives aimed at shaping Africa’s next generation of corporate leaders.
The event gathered top business executives, alumni, and supporters of JTB’s mission to foster inclusive, diverse leadership across boardrooms. Thirty-five graduates, including 21 women, were honored for completing the rigorous program that trains professionals in governance excellence, risk management, finance, stakeholder engagement, and ESG leadership.
British High Commissioner to Uganda, Her Excellency Lisa Chesney MBE, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. In her rousing speech, she applauded the 2025 cohort’s transformational journey, urging them to view the boardroom as a space where diverse voices and perspectives drive success.
“Companies with diverse boards are 43pc more likely to achieve higher profits,” she noted. “Let your journey to the boardroom be more than personal elevation—let it be a movement towards just, inclusive, and visionary leadership.”
Keynote speaker Sylvia Mulinge, CEO of MTN Uganda, emphasized the strategic importance of preparing leaders for boardroom readiness. “Empowering professionals with boardroom skills is crucial for sustainable business growth. JTB’s work is transformative,” Mulinge said.
JTB Founder Janet Bugembe reflected on the cohort’s journey with pride, recalling moments of personal growth and transformation during the intensive training. “Corporate governance isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about stewardship. Tonight, we celebrate a generation ready to shape Africa’s boardrooms with integrity and vision,” she said, while also expressing deep gratitude to the program’s stakeholders.
The night’s highlights included the presentation of prestigious awards.
- Ambassador’s Award went to Silvester Bwetabure.
- Founder’s Award was won by Tina Wamala, with Samuel Jjuuko and Joseph Kigozi taking first and second runner-up positions respectively.
- Boardroom Award winners were Fernandez Circle, followed by Chiefs Vanguard as first runner-up.
- MultiChoice Award was scooped by Aliker Inc, with Chiefs Vanguard again securing first runner-up.
Special appreciation was extended to MultiChoice Uganda and its MD Hassan Saleh, whose support was instrumental to JTB’s success. For the past two years, MultiChoice has generously provided their boardroom space for Saturday sessions, crucial to the cohort’s learning journey. In addition, they awarded UGX 5 million to the top winners and UGX 3 million to the runners-up.
JTB also warmly thanked MD Hassan Saleh for his unwavering support, acknowledging that the journey to the boardroom would not have been possible without his commitment.
Looking ahead, JTB announced the opening of applications for its third cohort from April 28 to June 6, 2025. The organization also unveiled the second edition of the JTB magazine, capturing inspiring stories and key insights from the journey so far.
Journey to the Boardroom aims to unlock the potential of untapped professionals and support corporate organizations in building diverse and dynamic leadership for the future.
