Business Desk 
Shehryar Ali, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard and Victor Ndlovu, Director and Head of Business Development in East Africa at Mastercard at the Uganda office opening ceremony.
Mastercard has officially opened its first office in Uganda, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion across East Africa.
The move is a strategic step to foster financial inclusion and accelerate digital transformation in the region.
Uganda’s economy is projected to grow at 6.2% by 2025, and Mastercard says its physical presence in Kampala will enable deeper collaboration with local stakeholders to deliver tailored solutions that address the unique needs of Ugandan consumers and businesses.
“Mastercard has a long-standing commitment to Africa, and the opening of our office in Uganda reinforces our dedication to this vibrant market,” said Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa at Mastercard.
“By being on the ground, we can better collaborate and drive the adoption of digital payment solutions that promote economic growth and financial inclusion,” he added.
Shehryar Bakht Ali, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard, said: “Uganda presents immense opportunities for digital innovation.
Our new office aims to serve as a hub for developing and implementing payment solutions that cater to the evolving needs of Ugandan consumers and businesses.”
Mastercard’s efforts in Uganda align with the government’s ‘Digital Uganda Vision’, a transformative initiative to harness digital technologies for national development.
As part of this commitment, Mastercard and the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoL) to accelerate the adoption of digital solutions that enhance government services and drive financial inclusion.
We have also been granted a Payment System Operator (PSO) License by the Bank of Uganda, enabling it to provide essential services such as settlement and clearing operations within Uganda.
Mastercard continues to drive financial and digital advancement in Uganda through key initiatives, including hosting the Community Pass Customer Summit and collaborating with the Uganda Bankers’ Association.
The opening of the Kampala office is part of Mastercard’s broader strategy to expand its footprint across Africa, with existing offices in Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Port Louis Mauritius, Dakar and Accra.
