SBG Securities Uganda Limited, the investment and brokerage subsidiary of Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL), recently scooped the award for the 2024 Best Performing Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) Manager.On receiving the award, Grace Semakula, the Chief Executive of SBG Securities, said:”We are excited to see our efforts gaining recognition. At SBG, we are driven by passion in ensuring that our clients get the best value for their investments. This is in line with our commitment as Stanbic Uganda to driving Uganda’s growth.”The Capital Markets Authority of Uganda (CMA) organized the awards ceremony to recognize outstanding performers under the theme: “Innovate, Trust, Grow: Driving Financial Inclusion through Unit Trusts.”In his keynote address, Moses Ogwapus, the Commissioner for Financial Services at the Ministry of Finance, cautioned the public against the growing risks of unregulated schemes targeting young Ugandans.He emphasized the need to move away from sports betting and Ponzi schemes and instead invest their money in safer, regulated investment vehicles such as Collective Investment Schemes.”We have seen a dangerous rise in Ponzi schemes and betting habits that rob our youth of their savings. These are not investments but speculative gambles. Collective Investment Schemes offer a trusted alternative for capital growth, helping individuals and the nation build a more stable financial future,” Ogwapus said.Hosted at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala early this week, the event brought together stakeholders from across Uganda’s capital markets industry, including unit trust managers, trustees, investor educators, and relevant regulatory bodies.In addition to other products offered, SBG Securities launched the Stanbic Unit Trust (SUT) fund in June last year, aimed at empowering Ugandans to pool their resources while leveraging professional fund management to generate favorable returns.While launching the fund at the time, Francis Karuhanga, the SUHL Chief Executive, said:”At Stanbic Uganda, we want to enable our customers to tap into this impressive growth and not be left behind, ensuring that they have access to financial investment services. That is why we have designed the Stanbic Unit Trust.”For a relatively affordable annual management fee of 2%, SBG Securities offers investors professional oversight and management of portfolios, further consolidated by being a member of the Standard Bank Group—Africa’s largest commercial bank by assets.The Stanbic Unit Trust is designed as a reliable investment option, making it an attractive choice for Ugandans seeking financial growth.CMA Uganda Chief Executive Officer Josephine Ossiya said the CIS sector continues to show strong growth, with a market size of UGX 4.2 trillion as of March 2025, up from UGX 2.8 trillion the previous year.”Fund accounts increased 12.8% from 114,400 (December 2024) to 129,000 (March 2025). Licensed fund managers have since grown from 9 to 12, while Unit Trust Schemes expanded from 17 to 22. We want every Ugandan, regardless of income, education, or location, to access the capital markets. With just UGX 100,000, you can begin your investment journey,” Ossiya said.