Job Title: CIO
Company: Stanbic Bank Uganda
Rita Apell is the chief information officer at Stanbic Bank Uganda.
She leads the bank’s technology and information systems agenda, with responsibility for digital strategy, enterprise systems, data governance, cybersecurity and technology-enabled business transformation.
Rita joined Stanbic in October 2024. She also serves as a non-executive director at Uganda Development Bank, a role she has held since February 2022, providing board oversight on technology, governance and institutional performance.
Prior to Stanbic, Rita spent over 12 years at FINCA Impact Finance. From January 2022 to November 2024, she was director of global data management, overseeing enterprise-wide data strategy and analytics. She also served as director of the global programme management office from January 2020 to January 2022, leading cross-border technology and transformation programmes.
Between August 2012 and January 2020, she was director of regional information technology – Africa, managing IT strategy, systems and infrastructure across multiple subsidiaries.
Earlier in her career, Rita was chief information officer at the East African Development Bank (2011–2012), head of information technology at Barclays (2007–2011), and held IT leadership roles at Nile Bank, Commercial Microfinance and Centenary Rural Development Bank, where she began as systems and database administrator.
Rita holds a master of business administration from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in computer science at Makerere University and earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and physics from the same institution. In 2024, she completed a programme in data science and business intelligence at the University of Austin (UATX).
Work Experience
2024 – Present: CIO, Stanbic Bank Uganda
2022 – Present: non-executive director, Uganda Development Bank
2022 – 2024: director, global data management, FINCA Impact Finance
2020 – 2022: director, global programme management office, FINCA Impact Finance
2012 – 2020: director, regional information technology – Africa, FINCA Impact Finance
2011 – 2012: CIO, East African Development Bank
2007 – 2011: head of information technology, Barclays
2006 – 2007: head of information technology, Nile Bank
2005 – 2006: head of information technology, Commercial Microfinance
2003 – 2005: manager, systems administration, Centenary Rural Development Bank
1999 – 2003: systems and database administrator, Centenary Rural Development Bank
Education
2023 – 2024: certificate in data science and business intelligence, University of Austin (UATX)
2013 – 2015: master of business administration (MBA), Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University
1998 – 1999: postgraduate diploma in computer science, Makerere University
1994 – 1997: bachelor of science in mathematics and physics, Makerere University
About Company
Stanbic Bank Uganda is a leading commercial bank providing banking, financial and investment solutions to individuals, businesses and institutions across Uganda.
