Nkumba University and the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) have today entered into a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing training, skilling, and professional development for students and practitioners in Uganda’s financial and business sectors.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Nkumba University by Prof. Jude T. Lubega, Vice Chancellor of Nkumba University, and Mrs. Goretti Masadde, Chief Executive Officer of UIBFS.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate in four key areas; Joint pipeline training to ensure students are market-ready, Practicing applied research, Joint community engagements to promote financial inclusion and Grant identification and publicity of programs for both institutions.
A major highlight of the partnership is the introduction of the Foundation Certificate in Banking and Finance, which will be rolled out alongside career guidance and internship placements for finance and accounting students at Nkumba University.
Mrs. Goretti Masadde, CEO of UIBFS, described the partnership as a critical step in building a skilled workforce for Uganda’s financial sector.
“This MoU reflects our commitment as UIBFS to not only train but also transform and prepare the next generation of professionals. By working with Nkumba University, we are creating pathways for students to gain practical skills, industry exposure, and professional grounding that will make them competitive in the workspace.”
She also linked the collaboration to Uganda’s wider economic vision.
“The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development’s goal is to increase the country’s GDP by tenfold. This goal can be achieved when we ensure to have staff that are well trained not only to get the right jobs but also to create them.”
Masadde reaffirmed UIBFS’s mandate as the center of excellence in financial services training and its role in accelerating financial inclusion, noting that both objectives would be advanced through the collaboration.
Prof. Jude T. Lubega, Vice Chancellor of Nkumba University, said the MoU was timely and critical for bridging the gap between academia and the world of work.
“This collaboration is a major step in equipping our students with the right skills for the workplace. It is important that universities work with professional bodies like UIBFS to ensure our graduates are not only academically excellent but also industry ready.”
Through this MoU, UIBFS and Nkumba University underscored their shared vision of strengthening Uganda’s talent pipeline by aligning education with industry needs.
The agreement also reaffirms UIBFS’s growing role as a key partner for universities seeking to embed professional, market-led training into their curricula.
