Helen Nangonzi Set to Leave Absa Uganda for Stanbic Marketing Role

Helen Basuuta Nangonzi is set to leave Absa Bank Uganda and join Stanbic Bank Uganda as Head of Marketing & Communications in November 2026, according to reports.

Helen Nangonzi, who has served as Absa Uganda’s Marketing and Customer Experience Director since March 2021, will take up the new role at Stanbic after more than five years at Absa.

Her move will also see her reunite with Mumba Kalifungwa, who was her Managing Director at Absa Uganda before becoming Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer on March 1, 2025.

Nangonzi’s Move to Stanbic

The reported appointment makes Nangonzi the third senior Absa executive to move to Stanbic within a two-year period. Her transition comes after a long career in banking marketing, communications and customer experience, spanning more than 18 years.

Before joining Absa, Nangonzi spent more than 14 years at Standard Chartered Bank, where she held a series of regional and local leadership positions.

She joined Standard Chartered in Uganda in 2006 as a product development officer and later held roles including General Manager of Marketing and Human Resource Relationship Manager.

She eventually became Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing for Kenya and East Africa, based in Nairobi.

Five Years Leading Absa Marketing

Nangonzi joined Absa Bank Uganda in March 2021 as Marketing and Customer Experience Director, shortly after the bank’s transition from the Barclays brand to Absa.

Her role included overseeing the bank’s marketing and customer experience agenda as it established the new Absa identity in Uganda.

During her tenure, she led campaigns around the Absa brand and worked on customer engagement, service quality and brand positioning.

She also focused on customer complaints and service-related issues, including internal processes aimed at resolving grievances and improving accountability.

Nangonzi has identified the development of her team as one of the most important parts of her time at Absa. She has previously highlighted the professional progression of team members, including promotions, increased incomes and industry recognition, as part of her legacy at the bank.

Recognition in Marketing

In April 2025, Nangonzi was named MarketingWorld Magazine’s CMO of the Week. The recognition highlighted her work in marketing leadership and customer-focused initiatives within the financial services sector.

Her professional profile also includes certification as a Chartered Marketer.

Nangonzi holds a degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University and advanced qualifications from the Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI).