Mwesige (L) and Kiwemba
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Pearl Bank has intensified its recruitment drive aimed at getting the best manpower to help it venture into the digital wired future.
Veteran corporate counsel Dorcas Balimukuubo Kiwemba has been appointed Pearl Bank’s new Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary, as the financial institution strengthens its leadership team to navigate an increasingly digital and highly regulated banking environment.
On the other hand, Steven Mwesige, a long-serving cybersecurity expert with more than 15 years of experience in technology, information security and risk governance, has been appointed the bank’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
The two appointments mark a strategic recruitment drive by Pearl Bank as it seeks to strengthen corporate governance, manage emerging digital threats and position itself for the future of banking, where technology, data protection and customer trust are becoming increasingly important competitive advantages.
Together, the executives bring more than three decades of combined professional experience in legal practice, financial services, cybersecurity and risk management, giving the bank additional expertise as it consolidates its market presence.
The appointments reflect the growing importance of combining strong legal oversight with advanced technology safeguards as financial institutions expand digital services and face increasingly sophisticated cyber risks.
Dorcas’ deep governance experience
Kiwemba joins Pearl Bank with more than 14 years of experience in the financial services sector, specialising in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, legal risk management and strategic advisory services to senior management.
She joined the bank in June 2026 after spending more than eight years at Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, where she served as Country Legal Counsel and Assistant Company Secretary.
In that role, she provided legal and governance support to the bank’s board, executive management and business functions, helping the institution navigate regulatory obligations and complex commercial transactions.
Before joining Standard Chartered, Kiwemba held progressively senior legal positions at Ecobank Uganda, including serving as Acting Head of Legal. She began her banking career as a Legal Officer before advancing into senior responsibilities.
Earlier in her career, she practised as an advocate at Capital Law Partners & Advocates, advising clients on corporate, commercial, banking and litigation matters.
Her experience covers company secretarial services, litigation management, external counsel coordination, credit and recoveries, and legal advisory on high-value transactions and business initiatives.
At Pearl Bank, her expertise is expected to support board effectiveness, strengthen compliance systems and ensure that the bank’s growth ambitions remain aligned with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Kiwemba holds a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours from Makerere University and a graduate qualification from the Chartered Governance Institute in the United Kingdom and Ireland. She is also a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society.
Her combination of legal expertise and commercial understanding is particularly relevant as banks navigate changing regulatory requirements while introducing new products and digital delivery channels.
Mwesige to strengthen digital security
Mwesige’s appointment as Chief Information Security Officer formalises his progression through Pearl Bank’s technology security leadership, where he has been instrumental in strengthening its cybersecurity function.
Since rejoining the bank in September 2020, he has led initiatives to improve its security posture and helped it achieve internationally recognised ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certifications.
These standards provide frameworks for information security management and payment card data protection, respectively, making them important safeguards for financial institutions handling sensitive customer information and digital transactions.
Before his confirmation as CISO in July 2026, Mwesige served as Acting Chief Information Security Officer from July 2025 to June 2026. He previously held the positions of Head of ICT Security and Governance and Manager for ICT Security and Data Protection.
His earlier experience includes working as an ICT Risk Officer at Bank of Africa Uganda, an ICT Solutions Architect and Lead Penetration Tester, and an ICT Security Officer at Pearl Bank. He has also worked in technology training and systems administration.
Mwesige’s expertise spans cybersecurity strategy, enterprise risk governance, data protection, regulatory compliance, security operations and responsible artificial intelligence governance.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Uganda Christian University and an Executive MBA in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, awarded with distinction by Guglielmo Marconi University in Italy.
His professional credentials include ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer and Certified Ethical Hacker qualifications, alongside risk governance certifications from the DCRO Institute. He has also undertaken executive training at Harvard University in managing risk in the information age.
Beyond his bank responsibilities, Mwesige serves as Governor of the Uganda Chapter of the Global Council for Responsible AI and chairs the Pearl Bank Staff SACCO board. He is also passionate about mentoring young technology professionals and developing local cybersecurity talent.
Positioning for the future
The recruitment of Kiwemba and Mwesige brings together two complementary areas of expertise that are increasingly central to modern banking.
While Kiwemba’s role focuses on legal integrity, governance and regulatory compliance, Mwesige will oversee the security structures needed to protect information systems, digital transactions and customer data.
As Pearl Bank advances its digital ambitions, the two executives will be expected to help the institution balance innovation and commercial growth with effective risk management.
Their appointments underscore the bank’s focus on building the leadership capacity required to compete in Uganda’s evolving financial services sector, where strong governance and reliable digital security are essential to maintaining customer confidence and supporting sustainable growth.
About the Author
