The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Lowest moment
However, it was not all rosy for the Harvard Business School trained executive when he took over the reins of Uganda’s largest bank by assets.
He told The Independent that changing the culture for the company’s employees was tough.
“When I assumed the CEO position, I remember speaking to the bank managers asking them what was wrong with the bank and how can we turn it around and they could say: ‘you know the problem with you Patrick is that you do not understand that mafias want this bank. You cannot turn it around, it is too big, and it is too messy. It is easier to accept the way it is,” Mweheire said.
“Of course, I could never accept that. I had to try hard and ensure that I change that attitude. The culture as we speak has changed.
“If you speak to Stanbic people now the culture has changed, they are the winners; they are happy, their attitude is positive. Those are the hardest things to change,” he added.
Asked on the way forward for his successor in terms of sustaining the growth for the bank, Mweheire said: “First, obviously try not to break anything. Secondly, make sure that you take care for employees because you can never have happy customers without happy employees. I am a big believer in that. You have also to put your eye on the culture.”
“And because you are winning, it doesn’t mean that you sit back and relax because actually you get humoured. So, you must remain hungry. Stay hungry and have some.”
Investment and management analysts say the new transition and assignment cut out for Mweheire would certainly stir the bank’s growth in the eastern Africa market owing to his determination and always anticipating the future of the financial sector.
“Patrick is a forward looking person. He is always cognisant of the future of banking and the financial sector and therefore if he actually implements his plans, then, the development will be good for the shareholders, management and the customers,” said Aeko Ongodia, a renowned Chartered Finance Analyst and founder (CEO) of Xeno Technologies, an investment management firm.
Aeko said the new CEO for Standard Bank Group in eastern Africa is aware of the challenges that regional banks are facing and would capitalise on that to grow the business.
****
