Career Biography

Claire Ssamula Ekochu is an accomplished corporate governance professional, legal adviser and regulatory compliance practitioner with more than two decades of experience in legal practice and financial services. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a Fellow of The Chartered Governance Institute, formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and a member of both the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society. Her career reflects a strong commitment to institutional integrity, sound governance, legal risk management, regulatory compliance and sustainable financial inclusion. 

Claire began her career in public interest legal service at the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society, where she provided pro bono legal assistance to indigent and disadvantaged members of society while pursuing her legal studies. This early experience deepened her appreciation of access to justice, professional ethics and the practical application of law. She later joined Magezi, Ibale & Co. Advocates as a Legal Associate, building core skills in legal research, client advisory, drafting pleadings and supporting litigation. She subsequently served as an Advocate at Byamugisha & Rwaheru Advocates, gaining broad experience in litigation, banking law, insurance law, company law, intellectual property, contract law, land transactions, alternative dispute resolution, commercial arbitration, employment and labour law. 

Her transition into financial services marked a defining phase in her career. Claire joined Pride Microfinance Limited, now Pride Bank Limited, as Legal Officer in 2003 and progressed to Manager Legal in 2007 before becoming Company Secretary and Head of Legal in 2012. In that role, she became the institution’s first in-house Company Secretary and played a pioneering role in establishing and strengthening the company secretarial function. She developed the Board Charter and Corporate Governance Manual to guide the Board, Senior Management, shareholders and the Office of the Company Secretary, aligning governance practices with legislation, regulatory expectations and Central Bank of Uganda guidelines. 

As Head of Legal, Claire established and led the institution’s first in-house legal department, transforming it into a fully fledged and licensed legal chambers. Under her leadership, the department grew into a multidisciplinary team of advocates, law clerks and debt collectors, delivering efficient and cost-effective legal services. She has advised the Board, Management and staff on legal, regulatory and operational matters; reviewed policies and procedures for compliance; negotiated and drafted contracts; supported litigation management; and contributed to credit, risk, assets and liabilities management committees. 

Her key career highlights include setting up both the first in-house company secretarial function and the first in-house legal department at the institution; developing governance and legal policy frameworks; coordinating Board evaluations and annual Board training; supporting regulatory compliance in a Central Bank-regulated environment; and managing legal costs through effective use of internal expertise. Her leadership has also extended to procurement governance, where she served as Chairperson and member of the Contracts Committee from 2009 to 2015, and to property governance as a Director on the Board of The Condominium Plan 0096 at Victoria Office Park. 

Claire’s professional development demonstrates an international outlook and a commitment to continuous learning. She has undertaken training in Board management, banking innovations, executive leadership, risk management and regulatory compliance from institutions across the world. Notably, she attended the Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance programme at Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and earned certification in Board Competence from Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. Throughout her career, Claire has demonstrated strategic leadership, legal depth, governance expertise and a passion for strengthening institutions through ethical, compliant and sustainable operations.