Anne Juuko became Director General of the East African Development Bank (EADB) on October 2, 2026. Her arrival ends almost two years of acting leadership at the Kampala based lender, which finances businesses and projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
A markets banker takes the top seat
EADB’s Governing Council announced the appointment in Kampala. Juuko moves from Standard Bank Group, where she served as Regional Head of Global Markets for Eastern Africa. Standard Bank named her to that role effective April 1, 2024, after four years as chief executive of Stanbic Bank Uganda.
She began her banking career in 2001 and holds more than two decades of experience across East and Southern Africa. She was the first woman to lead Stanbic Bank Uganda.
| Period | Role | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| April 2009 to June 2010 | Vice President, Head of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities | Citibank Uganda |
| June 2010 to June 2012 | Vice President, Customer Sales and Derivatives Marketing | Citibank Kenya, Nairobi |
| June 2012 to December 2017 | Head of Global Markets | Stanbic Bank Uganda |
| January 2018 to March 2020 | Head of Corporate and Investment Banking | Standard Bank Namibia |
| March 2020 to March 2024 | Managing Director and Chief Executive | Stanbic Bank Uganda |
| April 2024 to October 2026 | Regional Head of Global Markets, Eastern Africa | Standard Bank Group |
She replaces an acting head
Juuko succeeds Benard Mono, the bank’s Senior Director for Finance and Treasury, who held the post in an acting capacity. Mono took over after Director General Vivienne Yeda retired in December 2024. The Council thanked Mono for keeping the bank stable through the transition.
What the Council expects
Council Chairperson Yusuf Murangwa, who is Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said Juuko’s record of delivering growth across African markets and her grasp of capital markets and development finance suit the bank’s next phase.
At the same meeting the Council adopted a set of governance reforms. Murangwa said sound oversight is the base of a credible development bank. The reports I found do not list the reforms.
The bank she inherits
EADB was founded in 1967 under the East African Cooperation treaty. The bank says its owners are the governments of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, plus other development and commercial financial institutions. The Council said management and staff held strong momentum into 2026.
| 2025 measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Profit before tax | Up 51% |
| Total loan disbursements | Up 140% |
| S&P Global rating | A, stable outlook |
| Moody’s rating | Baa3, stable outlook |
Her priorities
“My priority will be to deepen the Bank’s development finance role,” Juuko said. She also named new sources of long term capital and partnerships that widen the bank’s reach across the region.
Those aims touch ordinary borrowers. The Monitor notes that the region needs long term funding for infrastructure, climate resilience, industry and jobs, while commercial banks lend mostly for short periods. A development bank that raises long term money can fund the factory, road or power project that a one year loan cannot.
What to watch next
Three items will show how Juuko approaches the job: the text of the governance reforms, her first funding or partnership announcement, and EADB’s full year 2026 results, which will test whether profit and disbursements hold the 2025 pace. None has a published date.
