๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐: ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐จ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ
The Symposium featured an insightful session led by Barbra Among Arinda, Executive Director of CRBA, who shed light on the foundational role of Credit Reference Bureaus in Ugandaโs financial ecosystem from how credit data is collected and processed, to why accuracy, compliance, and full industry participation are essential for trust and responsible lending.
Barbra emphasized the opportunities enabled by Ugandaโs expanded regulatory framework, which now allows all lenders, including retailers and hardware stores, to contribute to and benefit from the national credit reporting system. She further reinforced consumer protections including the right to a free annual credit report and a clear dispute resolution processย and called for stronger collaboration through CRBA to build a robust, unified credit marketplace.
This set the stage for a powerful Fireside Chat with leaders from all four licensed CRBs:
โก๏ธ Adebowale Atobatele โ Armada Credit Bureau
โก๏ธ Opio Obwangamoi Davidโ gnuGrid CRB
โก๏ธ Mark Charles Mwanje โ Creditinfo Uganda
โก๏ธ Richard Tumusiime โ Metropol Uganda
Together, they explored the future of credit information services; anchored in innovation, inclusion and alternative data. Key themes included:
โข Lifting visibility through wider participation โ especially from Tier Four lenders where large data gaps still exist
โข Strengthening data quality at the source โ with dedicated institutional capacity and compliance discipline
โข Unlocking financial access through alternative data โ from mobile money to SACCO records
โข Scaling decision automation โ enabling instant digital lending and remote onboarding
โข Broadening credit services beyond reports โ into analytics, scores, identity verification, and API-driven decision engines
The session closed with a shared call to action:
Uganda needs complete, clean, and protected credit data to expand access and drive a more inclusive economy; and this is only possible if all lenders participate consistently, responsibly, and collaboratively.