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Airtel Uganda has appointed Counsel Godfrey Bakibinga as the new Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs replacing Counsel Dennis Kakonge who resigned from the position with effect from 30th November, 2024, according to a statement signed off by Board Chairman, Hannington Karuhanga.
Kakonge in a LinkedIn update has been appointed as General Manager, Corporate Services and Company Secretary at MTN Uganda. Kakonge spent 14 years at Airtel as Legal and Regulatory Director.
Mr Bakibinga assumed his duties as Company Secretary/Legal & Regulatory Director, effective 1st December 2024.
Before the new appointment, Bakibinga was the Senior Manager – Legal and Regulatory Affairs of Airtel Uganda Limited, a position he held for the last 10 years. He has, in the past, worked as a Legal and Regulatory Advisor at Celtel Uganda Limited which later morphed into Zain Uganda.
Prior to joining Zain Uganda, he was a Tax Consultant at Ernst and Young. He has also managed the legal, regulatory and corporate affairs of Airtel affiliates, Zap Trust Uganda Limited (now Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Ltd), Airtel Telesonic Uganda Limited, Uganda Towers Limited, and Airtel DTH Services Uganda Limited.
Mr. Bakibinga is a certified Trustee and currently serves as the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Airtel Uganda Staff Provident Fund. He brings to the Board demonstrable experience and expertise in legal and regulatory affairs management, commercial law, corporate governance, stakeholder engagement, government and external relations, tax, risk, audit and compliance, transaction advisory, corporate restructuring, licence acquisition, monitoring and compliance, competition and consumer protection, project management, labour law and industrial relations.
He has played a significant role in many ground breaking projects and projects that have contributed to the current growth and stability of Airtel Uganda, including Acquisition of Zain Uganda by Bharti Airtel in Uganda (2011); Initial Public Offer (IPO) and eventual Listing of Airtel Uganda Ltd on the Uganda Securities Exchange (2023); the 20 year National Telecom Operator (NTO) Licence for Airtel Uganda (2020); corporate restructuring and operationalization of the Airtel Money Entity (2021); acquisition of the Payments Service Provider (PSP) and Payments System Operator (PSO) Licences for Airtel Money (2022);
He also played a role in the acquisition of a 15 year National Infrastructure Public Service Provider (NPIP) Licence for Airtel Telesonic Uganda Ltd (FibreCo) (2023); acquisition of OneWeb (Satellite) Project in Uganda (2023); acquisition, merger and consolidation of Warid Telcom Uganda Ltd (2013 – 2016); acquisition of National Infrastructure Public Service Provider (NPIP) Licence for Uganda Towers Ltd (Airtel TowerCo in Uganda) (2012); set up of Uganda Towers Ltd (former Airtel TowerCo in Uganda) (2010); acquisition of spectrum; Tower (Asset) Sale and Transfer by Airtel Uganda to Uganda Towers Ltd (2012); among others.
He’s an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a Member of the Uganda Law Society and East African Law Society, and a certified Trustee and currently serves as the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Airtel Uganda Staff Provident Fund.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Law Development Centre), Certification in Executive Leadership and Management (Strathmore University Business School), Six Sigma Black Belt, Trustee Certification (TTCP) (Insurance Training College), Bullet Proof Manager Certification (Crestcom University), Certificates in Telecom Regulation (University of Florida, USA) and Telecom and Digital Regulation (ITU Academy), and various post-graduate certifications in commercial law, telecom law and regulation, executive leadership and project management.