SBG Securities and Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited officials arriving for the launch
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I As more Ugandans look for saving for retirement options, the launch of SBG Securities’ pension fund management business is expected to widen access to professionally managed retirement savings while strengthening the country’s culture of long-term financial planning.
SBG Securities, a subsidiary of Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL), officially launched its pension fund management business during the inaugural Stanbic Uganda Pensions Conference, bringing its services into licensed pension fund management.
The conference, held under the theme “The Role of the Pensions Sector in Accelerating the Tenfold GDP Growth Strategy,” brought together regulators, policymakers, trustees, fund administrators, employers and investment professionals to examine how Uganda can increase retirement savings and use pension assets to finance long-term economic development.
Retirement saving options
The new offering is expected to give retirement schemes access to professional investment management, while complementing SBG Securities’ existing investment services.
Grace Semakula, Chief Executive Officer of SBG Securities Uganda Limited, said the business responds to growing demand for professional, transparent and innovative pension fund management services.
“Our objective is to deliver consistent value to retirement schemes through disciplined investment management, strong governance and sound risk management. Pension savings deserve professional stewardship that balances sustainable returns with long-term capital preservation,” Semakula said.
She said the expansion could also support national efforts to increase retirement savings and extend pension coverage to Uganda’s growing informal sector.
Government has identified wider pension coverage as an important priority, particularly because a large proportion of Ugandans work outside the formal employment system.
Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations Simon Mulongo said government remains committed to expanding pension coverage through initiatives such as the National Long-Term Savings Scheme.
“The pensions sector is no longer only about securing people’s retirement. It has become an important pillar for mobilising domestic capital that can finance Uganda’s long-term development priorities,” Mulongo said.
He called for stronger policy and regulatory frameworks that encourage greater participation while protecting contributors’ savings.
Development capital option
Beyond retirement security, Stanbic Uganda executives said pension funds can provide the long-term capital required to finance Uganda’s economic transformation.
Stanbic Uganda Holdings Chief Executive Officer Mark Ocitti Ongom said pension funds represent “patient capital” that can support infrastructure, housing, industrialisation and other strategic sectors.
“At Stanbic Uganda, our purpose is clear: ‘Uganda is our home; we drive her growth.’ We believe the pensions sector has a unique opportunity to contribute to Uganda’s long-term development by mobilising domestic savings and deploying them into productive investments that stimulate economic activity, create jobs and improve livelihoods,” Ongom said.
He said retirement savings provide workers with financial security after their working years but can also contribute to national development when professionally managed and responsibly invested.
The approach aligns with Stanbic Uganda’s Positive Impact Agenda, which places women, youth and farmers at the centre of economic transformation.
Paul Muganwa, Executive Director and Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Uganda, said the country’s tenfold economic growth ambition would require substantial pools of long-term investment capital.
“Pension funds provide one of the most reliable sources of that capital, and through strong partnerships between government, regulators and the private sector, we can channel these resources into sectors that generate sustainable economic growth while protecting the interests of pension contributors,” Muganwa said.
Integrated pension services
The launch also enables Stanbic Uganda Holdings to provide a broader range of pension solutions spanning banking, custody, trustee services, investment advisory and licensed pension fund management.
SBG Securities has progressively expanded its investment products beyond traditional securities to include Uganda Shilling and US Dollar Unit Trusts.
The pension fund management business therefore adds another component to the Group’s investment offering at a time when Uganda is seeking to deepen domestic savings and mobilise local capital.
For workers and employers, increased competition among pension service providers could encourage innovation, improved investment management and greater awareness of retirement planning.
The conference also marked the beginning of Stanbic’s October Love Month activities, which focus on appreciating customers and supporting communities, during a milestone year in which Stanbic is celebrating 35 years of operation in Uganda under Standard Bank Group.
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