Legal team size: 6

Looking forward, what trends do you foresee in the legal landscape over the next 5–10 years that companies should prepare for?

The legal landscape is evolving rapidly. Key trends include:

a) AI Technology Integration: Organisations are increasingly adopting AI for compliance, fraud detection, and customer onboarding.

b) Digital Assets and Tokenisation: Legal frameworks around tokenised assets, stablecoins, and CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) are maturing. Organisations must prepare for stricter licensing and compliance rules.

c) Open Banking and Data Portability: With global momentum behind open banking, legal teams will need to navigate data-sharing mandates, API standards, and consumer consent frameworks.

d) Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection: Regulators are tightening rules around data breaches, algorithmic transparency, and digital identity. Teams must embed privacy-by-design and robust risk management.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

A standout moment in my legal career this year was being the lead legal resource in the successful launch of a mobile money virtual card in Uganda in partnership with the largest mobile network operator in Africa, Mastercard, and a major East African bank.

This launch was special to me as the collaboration delivered: (i) a secure virtual card solution for mobile money customers in Uganda, (ii) a solution that allows users to instantly generate a virtual prepaid card linked to their mobile money wallet through USSD, (iii) a secure digital payment channel that can be used on local and global e-commerce platforms, and (iv) value-added service solutions such as fraud prevention, APIs, reconciliation and settlement, and online access for mobile users.

This is our second successful market rollout following a similar launch in Rwanda, thereby strengthening the organisation’s pan-African partnership. By bridging the gap between mobile money and digital payments, this current partnership will unlock secure, convenient online shopping for over 14 million mobile money customers in Uganda, thereby increasing financial integration and future growth for the people of Uganda.

How does your team contribute to the overall business strategy of the company?

Legal is not just a gatekeeper; it is a strategic partner. Our team drives business success by:

· Collaborating early with business teams to create efficiencies.
· Structuring compliant product launches like real-time payments and merchant solutions.
· Navigating licensing in new markets.
· Advising on partnerships, M&A, and commercial agreements.
· Monitoring regulatory changes to guide risk appetite and ensure compliance.
· Acting as a liaison between the business and regulators.

By aligning legal risk with business opportunity, we help the organisation scale responsibly and sustainably.

How are you bringing the legal department closer to your business colleagues?

To bring Legal closer to our business colleagues, we:

a) Embed Legal in Product Teams: Lawyers sit in on initial planning and product reviews to offer real-time guidance and also work alongside the business teams from product inception, through implementation and rollout, to the end customer.

b) Use Legal Playbooks: We have developed standard templates and checklists for common PSP scenarios—such as transaction monitoring, payment processing agreements, data processing and exchange agreements, and standard operating procedures.

c) Host Compliance Essentials Sessions: These internal workshops demystify legal concepts and agreements, and empower business teams to understand the role and use of the agreements, while also identifying compliance issues early.