The East African Development Bank (EADB) has appointed veteran Ugandan banker Anne Juuko as its Director General, taking over at a time when the regional lender is reporting sharp growth in profitability and loan disbursements.
Juuko assumed office on October 2, 2026, following a decision by the EADB Governing Council to appoint her to lead the institution as it implements reforms aimed at strengthening its performance and expanding its impact across East Africa.
She brings more than 20 years of experience in banking, financial markets and executive leadership across East and Southern Africa. Before joining EADB, Juuko served as Regional Head of Global Markets for Eastern Africa at Standard Bank Group.
She previously served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Bank Uganda, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Namibia, and held senior positions at Citibank Kenya and Citibank Uganda.
The appointment comes after a strong financial performance by EADB in 2025. According to the bank, profit before tax increased by 51%, while loan disbursements surged by 140% during the year.
The bank also retained investment-grade credit ratings of A from S&P Global and Baa3 from Moody’s, both with stable outlooks.
Yusuf Murangwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Chairperson of the EADB Governing Council, said Juuko’s regional experience would be critical as the institution enters a new phase of growth.
“Anne Juuko is a distinguished financial sector leader with a strong record of delivering growth across multiple African markets,” Murangwa said, highlighting her understanding of regional economies, capital markets and development financing.
Murangwa said Juuko was taking over from a strong foundation and would be expected to accelerate the bank’s transformation, unlock untapped opportunities and expand its contribution to regional economic development.
“The Governing Council is confident that, under her leadership, EADB will further strengthen its position as East Africa’s premier development finance institution, expand support to its Member States, and play an even greater role in driving regional economic growth, integration, and sustainable development,” he said.
Juuko said her priorities would include expanding EADB’s development finance role, mobilising new sources of long-term capital and building strategic partnerships.
“It is a privilege to join an institution that has been in existence for almost sixty years,” she said, adding that she was looking forward to working with stakeholders across the region to build on the bank’s existing foundation.
She said her leadership would focus on delivering greater socio-economic impact across the region by strengthening development finance and expanding the bank’s reach.
Alongside the leadership change, the Governing Council has adopted reforms intended to improve the bank’s performance and governance.
“Strong governance is the foundation of a credible development bank,” Murangwa said, arguing that the reforms would help EADB build on its existing foundation and deliver better results to member states and the wider region.
The EADB was established in 1967 and was re-established under a new Charter in 1980, which expanded its mandate to provide a broader range of financial services and promote socio-economic development and regional integration.
The bank is currently owned by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, alongside other development and commercial financial institutions.
Juuko succeeds an interim leadership arrangement overseen by Benard Mono, Senior Director of Finance and Treasury, whom the Governing Council credited with maintaining continuity and stability during the transition.
