In the evolving landscape of East African finance, Patience Mutesi stands out as a transformative leader reshaping banking with a distinctly human touch. As the managing director of BPR Bank Rwanda, a subsidiary of the KCB Group—East Africa’s largest commercial bank—Mutesi’s leadership philosophy and career journey embody the region’s spirit of resilience, inclusivity, and purposeful impact.
Born in Kenya, raised in Uganda, and rooted in Rwanda, Patience carries a uniquely East African identity that transcends borders. This cross-cultural heritage underpins her belief in East African unity and the shared purpose among its people. “I see myself as Kenyan by birth, with a Ugandan heart, and Rwanda as home,” she shares in a recent episode of the Women Running Finance in Africa podcast, hosted by Terry Muikamba and powered by KCB.
From her early education at Makerere University where she studied Quantitative Economics, to over a decade entrenched in banking and financial services, Patience’s trajectory has been both deliberate and broad. She began her career in microfinance, directly engaging with Rwanda’s grassroots entrepreneurs, which gave her essential insights into the systemic challenges small businesses face beyond just lack of financing.
Her subsequent move from banking to trade development with TradeMark East Africa brought a critical perspective on policy, infrastructure, and cross-border trade—a phase she credits with deepening her understanding of the sector’s complexities. Returning to banking with a renewed outlook, she emphasizes the importance of delving deeper than numbers: “Before I give money, I want to understand the DNA of the business—the supply chain, market access, logistics. Do you have proper books?; how do you understand your market?”
One of Mutesi’s signature initiatives at BPR Bank Rwanda is ‘Ikamba’, a program modeled on KCB’s acclaimed FLME product in Kenya but tailored to Rwandan realities. Ikamba addresses barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, focusing on unsecured credit lines, business development training, and digitized financial services to ease access. “Women often lack collateral because property is co-owned or controlled by male partners,” she explains. “Ikamba provides unsecured credit and equips women with skills like bookkeeping and governance to build sustainable businesses.”
Patience refutes the notion that women need to mimic men to succeed in corporate leadership. She embraces her emotional intelligence as a leadership strength rather than a weakness, embodying empathy and inclusiveness. “I am a leader who believes that talent lies everywhere. I include people, consult experts, and lead with empathy because understanding people is core to leadership.”
Her leadership style resonates with the values of purpose and impact, aligning with KCB Group’s tagline: “For people, For Better.” Her dedication to systemic change is reflected beyond banking; as a mother aware of the future challenges her children will face, she advocates sustainable decisions and nurturing global citizens ready to thrive anywhere.
Despite her accomplished stature, Patience remains grounded by her Christian faith and values of excellence instilled by her parents: “Whatever you do, be excellent at it. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord,” she recalls her parents’ spiritual counsel. These principles fuel her drive for excellence without comparison, focusing instead on maximizing her potential to serve others.
Under her stewardship, BPR Bank Rwanda not only leads financially but also in social impact, leveraging its extensive network to reach even the most remote entrepreneurs. Partnering with local governments and employing relational, community-centric outreach, Ikamba aims to deliver real empowerment to women at the grassroots.
In Rwanda’s progressive environment—where women hold more than 60% of parliamentary seats and nearly half of cabinet positions—Patience finds a supportive ecosystem for authentic female leadership. She credits deliberate political will for this gender inclusivity; a model she believes can inspire neighboring countries.
As she continues to champion inclusive finance and leadership, Patience Mutesi embodies a powerful East African narrative: one of courage, empathy, and transformative impact. Her journey is an inspiring testament to embracing identity, breaking barriers, and leading with heart for Africa’s future.
Click the link below to view the full podcast episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRCD-PJA5lw
