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The saying ‘curiosity killed the cat’ is often used as a warning against being overly inquisitive. For Hamza Mutebi, however, curiosity became the spark that set off a remarkable career journey. What began as a desire to understand how businesses operate and create value gradually evolved into a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, leadership and professional growth.

Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Statewide Insurance Company (SWICO), Mutebi credits much of his success to a willingness to ask questions, seek new experiences and embrace opportunities to learn. His rise to the helm of one of Uganda’s indigenous insurance companies is rooted in humble beginnings.

Before earning appointment as CEO of SWICO, he worked as a vendor selling SIM cards for MTN Uganda. His story reflects how determination, continuous learning and openness to opportunity can transform modest beginnings into significant professional achievement. Like many successful leaders across sectors, Mutebi’s career was shaped not by privilege but by perseverance and self-improvement. His journey shows that curiosity, when combined with hard work and ambition, can open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

Early career and the turning point

Mutebi began his professional life in frontline commercial roles within the telecommunications sector, including telecom retail and airtime distribution. He later transitioned into financial services, joining a licensed brokerage firm operating on the Uganda Securities Exchange. There, he gained exposure to securities trading, investment advisory services and relationships with high-net-worth clients. A defining moment came during the 2008 global financial crisis.

The experience exposed him to the realities of financial risk and reinforced the importance of disciplined financial planning. ‘The crisis taught me that risk is not theoretical; it affects real people, investments and livelihoods,’ he says. Around the same time, a friend’s introduction to the insurance sector redirected his curiosity towards risk management and protection. He often explains insurance through a simple but powerful question: ‘What if it happens?’ That question has since become central to his approach to insurance education, helping people understand insurance not as an expense, but as a practical tool for protecting families, businesses, assets and long-term plans.

Building expertise across financial services

Mutebi later played a key role in launching unit trust funds at UAP Insurance before moving to Accra, Ghana, where he gained further experience in financial services. On returning to Uganda, he joined MTN Group’s insurtech venture aYo as Country Launcher. He later served as Country Director at Turaco, a regional micro-insurance company, a role he held for about six years. His appointment as CEO of SWICO took effect on July 1, 2025, during a significant leadership transition at the company.

Founded more than four decades ago, SWICO is among Uganda’s oldest indigenous general insurance firms. While it entered the transition with a strong legacy and established market presence, it also faced sector-wide challenges, including low insurance penetration, shifting customer expectations, pressure for faster claims settlement and the need for greater digitisation. In 2025, SWICO recorded gross written premiums of approximately Shs20.39 billion, insurance service revenue of Shs15.43 billion, net underwriting profit of Shs609.69 million and about 34,945 active policies. Since assuming office, Mutebi has focused on accelerating growth, improving digital automation, enhancing customer experience, strengthening cash flow management, speeding up claims settlement, encouraging product innovation and building a high-performance culture.

A career defined by evolution

Mutebi’s professional path has moved from frontline sales and financial services operations into capital markets, investment products, insurtech, micro-insurance and ultimately executive leadership in general insurance. Each stage broadened his understanding of financial products, customer behaviour and the central role of trust in financial services. At SWICO, he is now applying that experience to strengthen a 44-year-old indigenous insurer, helping it adapt to changing customer needs through technology, product innovation, faster claims processing and public education.

Buganda Kingdom has challenged members of the Buganda Lukiiko to redefine their role beyond debating issues in the Kingdom’s legislature, urging them to become a source of innovative ideas capable of driving Buganda’s social and economic transformation.

The message dominated the opening of the Buganda Lukiiko retreat at Mengo on where the Kingdom’s top leadership called on legislators to uphold integrity, professionalism and a stronger sense of public service.

Opening the retreat, the Speaker of the Buganda Lukiiko, Mr Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule, said the annual gathering is intended to give members time to reflect on their work over the past year, assess their performance and identify ways of improving service to the people of Buganda.

He said the retreat also strengthens unity among members and provides an opportunity to align their work with the Kingdom’s priorities.

‘This retreat allows us to evaluate how we have served the Kingdom during the past year and determine how we can become better representatives of our people,’ Mr Mugumbule said.

He described the retreat as an important governance tool and appealed to the Kingdom leadership to institutionalise it as a permanent programme within the Buganda calendar.

The retreat is being held under the theme, ‘Raising the Standard and Conduct of Members of the Buganda Lukiiko.’

Delivering the keynote address, Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga said the effectiveness of the Lukiiko will not be measured by the number of meetings it holds but by the quality of ideas generated by its members.

‘The greatest responsibility of a Lukiiko member is to think. Nations develop because of ideas. When ideas are lacking, development stagnates,’ Mr Mayiga said.

He challenged legislators to move beyond their ceremonial status and actively contribute solutions to the challenges facing Buganda.

According to the Katikkiro, members should first understand the Kingdom’s development programmes before attempting to explain or defend them in their constituencies.

Among the initiatives he highlighted were the Mwanyi Terimba coffee campaign, the Kingdom’s housing and brick-making projects, staff welfare reforms and the Situla Omutindo programme.

He urged legislators to critically assess these initiatives and propose practical improvements instead of merely supporting them.

Using the Ente ya Kabaka programme as an example, Mr Mayiga challenged members to ask themselves what new ideas they could contribute to strengthen agriculture rather than simply praising existing projects.

He posed similar questions about trade, asking whether businesses in Buganda are operating sustainably, keeping proper records and contributing meaningfully to economic growth.

He said legislators should provide answers to such questions through policy recommendations and practical proposals.

Mr Mayiga also reflected on the history of the Buganda Lukiiko, describing it as one of the Kingdom’s oldest governance institutions.

He said the Lukiiko has evolved from a traditional council of clan leaders advising the Kabaka to a modern legislative institution whose members are appointed by the Kabaka to represent the interests of Buganda.

Katikkiro noted that although the structure of the Lukiiko has changed over the years, its core mission remains unchanged: providing ideas that strengthen the Kingdom and improve the welfare of its people.

He commended members who have supported the Mwanyi Terimba initiative, saying it has enabled many families to improve their incomes through coffee growing.

Beyond policy discussions, Mr Mayiga reminded members that leadership is also judged by personal conduct.

He said titles alone do not command public respect, arguing that true leadership is earned through integrity, discipline, humility and dedication to service.

‘The respect people give you should come from your conduct and commitment to serving them, not simply because you hold office,’ he said.

He added that as the retreat continues, members are expected to deliberate on ways of strengthening representation, improving oversight of Kingdom programmes and enhancing the contribution of the Buganda Lukiiko to the Kingdom’s development.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni begins a two-day working visit to Tanzania today, as the two countries seek to strengthen bilateral ties.

The August 5-6 visit marks President Museveni’s second trip to Tanzania this year, coming six months after his February working visit during which he and President Samia Suluhu Hassan pledged to fast-track a series of strategic infrastructure, transport and energy projects.

‘The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including trade and investment, infrastructure and transport, energy, tourism, defence and security, and regional integration,’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said in a statement yesterday.

The visit aims to further strengthen the longstanding historical, fraternal and diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Uganda, it said, adding that the two leaders will also review progress in implementing strategic projects and discuss measures to remove barriers affecting trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Analysts speculate that the leaders will focus on accelerating key cross-border infrastructure projects and reviewing progress on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), among other things. The flagship EACOP project has moved significantly closer to completion. During an inspection of the project in Tanga on June 29, Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi announced that construction had reached 86 percent, with completion expected this month. He also said the first crude oil shipment from Chongoleani Port is now expected in January 2027, replacing the earlier target of July 2026.

‘The minor challenge we identified is that electricity lines have not yet reached the project site. I have directed the contractor, through TANESCO, to ensure the work is completed before the contract deadline,’ he said.

The $6 billion EACOP project stretches about 1,443 kilometres from Hoima in western Uganda to Chongoleani in Tanga and is expected to become the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline. According to the government, construction has already created about 10,000 jobs, with approximately 7,500-equivalent to 75 percent-going to Tanzanians.

Beyond EACOP, the two governments are also pursuing a proposed natural gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda, a refined petroleum products pipeline to Tanga, expansion of the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara, and railway projects intended to improve regional connectivity and lower transport costs.

An economist at the University of Iringa, Mr Samson Rutashobya, said the visit is likely to concentrate on ensuring the remaining work on EACOP and other strategic projects is completed on schedule. He added that the talks could also culminate in the signing of new agreements on other bilateral projects, particularly the proposed natural gas pipeline and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connection between the two countries. ‘The relationship between Tanzania and Uganda has increasingly shifted from political goodwill to implementation of large economic projects. This visit offers an opportunity for the two leaders to assess progress, resolve remaining bottlenecks and ensure the agreed projects deliver the expected economic benefits,’ he said.

He added that successful completion of EACOP would strengthen investor confidence while positioning Tanzania as a major regional energy and logistics hub.

The Executive Director of the Research on Poverty Alleviation (Repoa), Dr Donald Mmari, said regular high-level engagements demonstrate both countries’ commitment to translating bilateral agreements into measurable economic outcomes.

‘Major infrastructure projects require continuous political oversight because they involve multiple institutions and cross-border coordination. The visit provides an opportunity to review implementation while discussing wider trade, investment and industrial cooperation,’ he said.

According to him, improved transport and energy infrastructure could significantly reduce business costs and stimulate trade throughout the East African Community.

Foreign policy analyst and political scientist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Mr Salbinus David, said the visit also carries important diplomatic significance.

‘Tanzania and Uganda are among the region’s most influential countries. Frequent consultations between their leaders strengthen cooperation not only on bilateral projects but also on regional peace, security and East African integration,’ he said.

Mr David noted that the second visit within a single year reflects the strategic importance both governments attach to their partnership, particularly as major infrastructure projects approach completion.

A public administration and political analyst at the State University of Zanzibar, Prof Makame Ali Ussi, said presidential diplomacy has become increasingly important in ensuring regional flagship projects remain on course.

‘Large cross-border investments require sustained political commitment. Regular meetings between heads of state help maintain momentum, resolve emerging challenges and reinforce confidence among investors and development partners,’ he said.