The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has named Dr Alex Mutebi Mubiru as its new Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. He will also serve as Country Manager designate for Kenya, with the appointment taking effect on 1 May 2025.
Dr Mubiru, 55, is a Ugandan economist with more than two decades of experience in international development. His appointment marks a significant step in AfDB’s leadership as it looks to bolster its regional impact.
He joined the Bank in 2009 and has held a range of strategic and leadership roles, including Director of Strategy & Delivery in the President’s Cabinet and most recently, Director General of the Cabinet Office of the President. His career within the AfDB has been marked by both breadth and depth—spanning research, country-level engagement, and high-level policy coordination.
Before joining the Bank, Dr Mubiru spent over ten years in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, he worked at the Thailand Development Research Institute and the World Bank. Later, he moved to Singapore, where he taught public policy and economics at leading institutions including the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Singapore Management University.
His international experience, both within and outside Africa, is expected to serve him well as he takes on a portfolio of operations across more than a dozen countries in the East Africa region. That portfolio is currently valued at $16.8 billion and includes 314 active projects.
“This is a significant responsibility, and I am committed to working with our dedicated teams and partners to drive impactful development outcomes,” said Dr Mubiru. “Together, we will strive to meet the expectations of our stakeholders and contribute to Africa’s ongoing transformation.”
Dr Mubiru holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics from Macalester College in the United States. He later earned dual master’s degrees in public affairs and urban and regional planning, followed by a PhD in Public Affairs, all from Princeton University.
AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina welcomed the appointment, describing Mubiru as a “strategic thinker” with deep institutional knowledge. “His leadership will be critical as the Bank sharpens its focus on programme delivery and meaningful engagement with partners across the region,” he said.
Dr Mubiru takes over at a time when the AfDB is pushing forward with its 10-Year Strategy, with a focus on inclusive growth, regional integration, and climate resilience.
