The Sheraton Kampala Hotel glittered with anticipation and celebration on Friday, April 25, 2025, as Journey to the Boardroom (JTB) held its 2025 Grand Finale, honouring the achievements of its latest cohort and recognising individuals and organisations driving a new era of inclusive and diverse corporate leadership.
The black-tie event, attended by business leaders, dignitaries, and alumni, marked the culmination of an intensive leadership journey for 35 participants, including 21 women, reflecting JTB’s strong commitment to fostering gender equity in boardroom spaces.
The evening featured distinguished guests, including Her Excellency Lisa Chesney MBE, British High Commissioner to Uganda, who served as Guest of Honour, and Ms. Sylvia Mulinge, CEO of MTN Uganda, who delivered a powerful keynote address.
Key Messages on Leadership and Diversity
In her keynote, Sylvia Mulinge emphasised that preparing professionals for boardroom readiness is crucial for sustainable business growth. “JTB’s work is transformative,” she said, urging graduates to champion ethical governance and dynamic leadership.
Addressing the audience, H.E. Lisa Chesney MBE spoke passionately about the critical role of diversity in corporate success: “Boardrooms should be accessible to all professions. Companies with diverse boards are 43% more likely to achieve higher profits. Let your journey be a movement toward just, inclusive, and visionary leadership.”
She reflected on three pillars for future leaders: the importance of belonging in the boardroom, the need for empathetic, visionary leadership, and the recognition that the journey of learning and impact never truly ends.
A Night of Honours: 2025 Award Winners
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Journey to the Boardroom Awards (JTB Awards), recognising exceptional individuals and organisations.
Silvester Bwetabure won the Ambassador’s Award. Tina Wamala was named the Founders Award Winner. Samuel Jjuuko emerged as the Founders Award 1st Runner-Up.
Joseph Kigozi was announced as the Founders Award 2nd Runner-Up. Fernandez Circle won the Boardroom Award. Chiefs Vanguard was the Boardroom Award 1st Runner-Up.
Aliker Inc. received the MultiChoice Award, while Chiefs Vanguard also secured the position of MultiChoice Award 1st Runner-Up.
In a notable show of support, MultiChoice Uganda, a key JTB partner, contributed cash prizes of UGX 5 million and UGX 3 million to the top winners, recognising their outstanding contributions and commitment to boardroom excellence. MultiChoice was specially acknowledged for offering their boardroom space every Saturday for the cohort’s training sessions — a gesture deemed vital to the program’s success.
Special appreciation was also extended to Managing Director Hassan Saleh, whose early support made the “Journey to the Boardroom” initiative possible. Without his backing, organisers noted, the groundbreaking program would never have taken flight.
Reflecting on a Transformative Journey
Janet Bugembe, JTB Founder and Chevening Scholar, praised the 2025 cohort for their resilience and growth, saying: “During our retreat, I watched these leaders lean into discomfort, challenge norms, and emerge ready to govern with integrity. Corporate governance isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about stewardship.”
She also announced the opening of applications for Cohort III (April 28 to June 6, 2025) and unveiled the second edition of the JTB Magazine, featuring inspiring stories from alumni.
About Journey to the Boardroom
Journey to the Boardroom is a leadership development program committed to preparing professionals for effective board service. Through rigorous training in governance, finance, ESG, stakeholder management, and strategic leadership, JTB is reshaping Uganda’s corporate landscape by nurturing a diverse pipeline of board-ready talent.
In her closing remarks, H.E. Lisa Chesney reminded the graduates: “Let your journey to the boardroom be more than personal elevation—let it be a movement. The future is in bold, brilliant hands. Congratulations, Luminaries!”
The 2025 Grand Finale closed with a toast to new beginnings, as the graduates pledged to carry the torch of excellence, innovation, and inclusive leadership into the corporate world and beyond.
