President Museveni Appoints Richard Byarugaba Senior Presidential Advisor on Exports and Industrial Development

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Director Richard Patrick Byarugaba as Senior Presidential Advisor on Exports and Industrial Development, a move aimed at strengthening the exports secretariat within the Office of the President and accelerating Uganda’s industrialization drive.

Announcing the appointment, President Museveni said Byarugaba’s experience and track record in finance, investment management, and institutional leadership would help the exports secretariat deliver better and more measurable results. The President simultaneously named Moses Sabiti to the same advisory role, signaling a renewed push to align policy, investment, and execution in support of export-led growth.

Byarugaba brings to the role decades of experience across banking, pension management, and corporate governance. Since August 14, 2025, he has served as Chairman of Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda, overseeing investment strategy and market positioning in one of the country’s most prominent asset management firms. His appointment to State House adds seasoned private-sector expertise to the President’s advisory team at a time when Uganda is seeking to expand value-added exports, deepen industrial capacity, and attract long-term capital.

A veteran of Uganda’s financial sector, Byarugaba previously led NSSF—the semi-autonomous pension body for private sector workers—from November 2017 to November 2022. During his tenure, NSSF expanded its asset base, diversified investments, and strengthened governance and transparency, helping to position the Fund as a major domestic investor in infrastructure, real estate, and capital markets.

Born in 1961 in western Uganda, Byarugaba studied statistics and economics at Makerere University. He later qualified as an accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom and earned a management diploma from Henley Management College. His academic grounding in economics and finance has underpinned a career defined by institutional building and financial stewardship.

Byarugaba’s professional journey began at Standard Chartered Bank Uganda in 1983, where he joined as a banking officer and steadily rose through the ranks. By 1992, he had become Executive Director for Finance. Two years later, he moved to Standard Chartered’s London headquarters as Regional Finance Manager for Africa, gaining exposure to international banking operations and regional financial strategy.

In 1997, he returned to Uganda to join Nile Bank Limited and was appointed Managing Director in 2003. Following Barclays’ acquisition of Nile Bank in 2007, Byarugaba transitioned to Barclays Bank Uganda as Chief Operating Officer, helping to steer the integration and operational realignment of the institution. In 2008, he took on the role of Managing Director at Global Trust Bank Uganda, a position he held until 2010 before moving to NSSF.

Beyond his executive roles, Byarugaba has contributed to professional development and public-interest institutions. He has supported organizations such as Hospice Africa, the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, and the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services. He also served as Treasurer of the Uganda Bankers Association, reinforcing his standing within the country’s financial leadership.

As Senior Presidential Advisor on Exports and Industrial Development, Byarugaba is expected to advise on strategies that boost Uganda’s export competitiveness, promote value addition, and strengthen linkages between industry, finance, and markets. Working alongside Moses Sabiti, his mandate aligns with the government’s broader objectives to expand manufacturing, grow non-traditional exports, and deliver sustainable economic transformation.

The appointments underscore President Museveni’s intent to leverage experienced technocrats from the private sector to sharpen policy execution and accelerate Uganda’s transition toward an export-driven, industrial economy.