Ebenezer ESSOKA
Chairperson of the Board
Ebenezer Essoka is Executive Chairman of IBURU, an advisory firm focused on Economic Development across Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). He retired from Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Group as Vice Chairman, Africa in November 2015 after over 30 years of banking experience. Prior to becoming Vice Chairman, he was CEO South Africa and Southern Africa (2008-2013) and CEO Central and West Africa (2004-2008).
In addition to his responsibilities at IBURU, he is an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) Sanlam Limited and Sanlam Life insurance Limited, South Africa, Independent Non-Executive Chairman United Bank for Africa (UBA) Cameroon SA, INED and Chairman of Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee of Mobile Money Corporation of Cameroon, Senior Advisor to the President of the Africa Development Bank, working on the Africa Investment Forum. Mr Essoka had served on Boards in other jurisdictions including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Pakistan etc. He was a member of the Global advisory council of the London business School (2000-2016).
Mr Essoka holds a BS Degree in Finance, an MBA in Finance, and a Diploma in International Business from Seton Hall University USA. In addition, he has attended Senior Executive development programs at INSEAD, London Business School, Templeton College, Oxford University and Cambridge University.
Ebenezer ESSOKA
Chairperson of the Board
Ebenezer Essoka is Executive Chairman of IBURU, an advisory firm focused on Economic Development across Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). He retired from Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Group as Vice Chairman, Africa in November 2015 after over 30 years of banking experience. Prior to becoming Vice Chairman, he was CEO South Africa and Southern Africa (2008-2013) and CEO Central and West Africa (2004-2008).
In addition to his responsibilities at IBURU, he is an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) Sanlam Limited and Sanlam Life insurance Limited, South Africa, Independent Non-Executive Chairman United Bank for Africa (UBA) Cameroon SA, INED and Chairman of Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee of Mobile Money Corporation of Cameroon, Senior Advisor to the President of the Africa Development Bank, working on the Africa Investment Forum. Mr Essoka had served on Boards in other jurisdictions including Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Pakistan etc. He was a member of the Global advisory council of the London business School (2000-2016).
Mr Essoka holds a BS Degree in Finance, an MBA in Finance, and a Diploma in International Business from Seton Hall University USA. In addition, he has attended Senior Executive development programs at INSEAD, London Business School, Templeton College, Oxford University and Cambridge University.
Philippe WATRIN
Director
Philippe WATRIN is the Chief Investment Officer of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), the public institution mandated to administer social security in the country, which is as well the largest Rwandan investment fund.
Prior to joining RSSB, he used to work for the French sovereign wealth fund, Bpifrance\, as a Deputy Head of the assets and liabilities management department, and for Mazars in the Transaction Services and Financial Audit Departments.
He holds a Master of Science (MS) in Economic Research, Finance and Insurance from Aix-Marseille School of Economics (France) and Master of Science (MS) in Mathematical Finance and Strategy from Ecole Centrale de Marseille (France).
Philippe WATRIN
Director
Philippe WATRIN is the Chief Investment Officer of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), the public institution mandated to administer social security in the country, which is as well the largest Rwandan investment fund.
Prior to joining RSSB, he used to work for the French sovereign wealth fund, Bpifrance\, as a Deputy Head of the assets and liabilities management department, and for Mazars in the Transaction Services and Financial Audit Departments.
He holds a Master of Science (MS) in Economic Research, Finance and Insurance from Aix-Marseille School of Economics (France) and Master of Science (MS) in Mathematical Finance and Strategy from Ecole Centrale de Marseille (France).
Robert Makuza
Director
Robert MAKUZA is a successful entrepreneur with extensive managerial and corporate governance experience; he demonstrates a high sense of responsibility, vision, strong coordination and supervision qualities as well as interpersonal skills.
He is currently the General manager of TECHNICO TRADING Ltd, operating in the general trading area; He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMEGERWA Ltd one of leading furniture manufacturing companies in Rwanda; RWANDAFOAM Ltd; MARKET SHOPPING CENTER Ltd; he is also a sitting Directors in Boards of RWANDA PLASTIC INDUSTRIES Ltd and served previously in COGEAR.
He holds Bachelor degree in Law from Institute of Lay Adventists (Rwanda) and is efficient in computer skills.
Robert Makuza
Director
Robert MAKUZA is a successful entrepreneur with extensive managerial and corporate governance experience; he demonstrates a high sense of responsibility, vision, strong coordination and supervision qualities as well as interpersonal skills.
He is currently the General manager of TECHNICO TRADING Ltd, operating in the general trading area; He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMEGERWA Ltd one of leading furniture manufacturing companies in Rwanda; RWANDAFOAM Ltd; MARKET SHOPPING CENTER Ltd; he is also a sitting Directors in Boards of RWANDA PLASTIC INDUSTRIES Ltd and served previously in COGEAR.
He holds Bachelor degree in Law from Institute of Lay Adventists (Rwanda) and is efficient in computer skills.
Marie Rose UWASE
Director
Marie Rose UWASE has experience of more than 13 years in Audit and Finance. She is currently working as Head of Internal Audit for both SONARWA General Insurance Company Ltd and SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd.
Before that, she worked as Head of Internal Audit of SONARWA General Insurance Company Ltd.
She worked for United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as Finance Associate. She also worked for the Office of the Auditor General for State Finances as an external auditor in Government Institutions and Projects.
She currently serves as member of the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Health. Marie Rose UWASE is a member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from National University of Rwanda.
Marie Rose UWASE
Director
Marie Rose UWASE has experience of more than 13 years in Audit and Finance. She is currently working as Head of Internal Audit for both SONARWA General Insurance Company Ltd and SONARWA Life Assurance Company Ltd.
Before that, she worked as Head of Internal Audit of SONARWA General Insurance Company Ltd.
She worked for United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as Finance Associate. She also worked for the Office of the Auditor General for State Finances as an external auditor in Government Institutions and Projects.
She currently serves as member of the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Health. Marie Rose UWASE is a member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from National University of Rwanda.
Arlette RWAKAZINA
Director
Arlette RWAKAZINA is a person passionate about Digital Finance, Financial inclusion and Digital transformation.
She previously worked as General Manager Cybersecurity and Strategic Integrations at Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority – RURA, in charge of Cybersecurity within the utilities RURA is regulating as well as emerging and innovative technologies and Big Data.
Previous to that, she worked at ERICSSON as Senior Solution Architect and Business Analyst for Mobile Financial Services. Among her duties were to engage partners and design Mobile Money solutions that are commercially and technically viable but also ensure a well operating and compliant Mobile Money System for Telecom Operators.
She holds a Master’s of Science in Communications, Control and Digital Signal Processing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. She is also a Certified Digital Finance Practitioner from the Digital Frontiers Institute in collaboration with Tufts University.
Arlette RWAKAZINA
Director
Arlette RWAKAZINA is a person passionate about Digital Finance, Financial inclusion and Digital transformation.
She previously worked as General Manager Cybersecurity and Strategic Integrations at Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority – RURA, in charge of Cybersecurity within the utilities RURA is regulating as well as emerging and innovative technologies and Big Data.
Previous to that, she worked at ERICSSON as Senior Solution Architect and Business Analyst for Mobile Financial Services. Among her duties were to engage partners and design Mobile Money solutions that are commercially and technically viable but also ensure a well operating and compliant Mobile Money System for Telecom Operators.
She holds a Master’s of Science in Communications, Control and Digital Signal Processing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. She is also a Certified Digital Finance Practitioner from the Digital Frontiers Institute in collaboration with Tufts University.
Pie HABIMANA
Director
Dr. Pie HABIMANA is a business law practitioner and scholar with more than 13 years of experience. He was called to the Bar in 2011, and is the managing partner of Amilex Chambers.
He is currently the Vice-President of the East Africa Law Society (EALS), a member of the Board of the Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) and a disciplinary commissioner of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR). He is also a member and on the panel of arbitrators and adjudicators of the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), the International Bar Association (IBA), and the African Business Integrity Network (ABIN).
In academia, Dr. Pie teaches tax law, international trade law, and private international law at the University of Rwanda (since 2010) and corporate law practice, commercial transactions, and practice management at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (since 2014). He is the author of numerous books and research papers published in well-reputed journals.
Pie Habimana holds a PhD in international tax law from the prestigious Leiden Law School of Leiden University, a Master’s degree in business law (cum laude) and a Bachelor’s degree in law (cum laude) from the National University of Rwanda, a Postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development, and several postgraduate certificates.
Pie HABIMANA
Director
Dr. Pie HABIMANA is a business law practitioner and scholar with more than 13 years of experience. He was called to the Bar in 2011, and is the managing partner of Amilex Chambers.
He is currently the Vice-President of the East Africa Law Society (EALS), a member of the Board of the Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) and a disciplinary commissioner of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR). He is also a member and on the panel of arbitrators and adjudicators of the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), the International Bar Association (IBA), and the African Business Integrity Network (ABIN).
In academia, Dr. Pie teaches tax law, international trade law, and private international law at the University of Rwanda (since 2010) and corporate law practice, commercial transactions, and practice management at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (since 2014). He is the author of numerous books and research papers published in well-reputed journals.
Pie Habimana holds a PhD in international tax law from the prestigious Leiden Law School of Leiden University, a Master’s degree in business law (cum laude) and a Bachelor’s degree in law (cum laude) from the National University of Rwanda, a Postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development, and several postgraduate certificates.
