WE ARE FURAHA

We connect people and institutions to inclusive finance, ensuring purpose meets progress for everyone.

The Furaha
Story

Picture a place where technology meets empathy, where your aspirations take center stage. Established in 2023, Furaha stands as a bridge between your ambitions and financial possibilities. We break complex challenges and provide tailored paths to success, keeping your journey at the core of every decision we make with you.

01

Our Mission

Unlocking financial opportunities for the missing middle through community and technology.

02

Our Vision

At Furaha, we believe that when purpose is matched with appropriate financing, growth and development of society is an automatic outcome. We want to build Africa’s leading purpose driven financing platform.

Our Values

SDG4: Quality Education

We're passionate about Quality Education. Our focus on providing education loans to make quality education more accessible supports the Sustainable Development Goal 4 to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. Imagine a world where there are no barriers to quality of education. That's the future we're building.

Our
Team

Ian Fernandes

co-founder

Ian Fernandes

Ian, co-founder of Furaha, champions financial empowerment across Africa. He brings over 16 years of experience from his time at the Standard Chartered Group, where he led strategic initiatives for Africa and the Middle East. Ian has been instrumental in launching 10 digital banks across Africa and Pakistan and has overseen strategic business sales. His impact goes beyond the financial aspect, as he is dedicated to promoting strong governance and developing frameworks that ensure operational excellence and ethical conduct. His expertise also extends to private equity, where he has identified investment opportunities focused on financial services and empowering consumers. 

Ian embodies the spirit of Furaha, using his expertise and passion to create a brighter future for Africa.

Yustus Aribariho

co-founder

Yustus Aribariho

Yustus, co-founder of Furaha Financial, brings over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. He possesses a wealth of knowledge in product design, technology, branding, and operations, with a particular focus on making finance more accessible and uplifting in Africa. Before joining Furaha, Yustus served as the Global Head of Digital Platforms at Standard Chartered Bank. He played a crucial role in launching Standard Chartered’s digital banks in nine African markets, developing and delivering digital banking solutions across Africa, Asia  and the Middle East. He boasts an impressive track record in areas like Consumer Banking, product development, credit cards, and risk management.

Yustus embodies the spirit of Furaha – making a positive impact with a smile.

Dennis Musinguzi

ceo uganda

Dennis Musinguzi

Dennis has been redefining digital transformation for over two decades, merging strategic mastery with ground-breaking innovation to transform everyday lives. A trailblazer in fintech and financial services, he crafts scalable solutions that bridge ambition with impact, turning complex challenges into opportunities for empowerment.

From revolutionizing telecom ecosystems to deploying multiple African firsts, Dennis has excelled in various leadership roles at MTN Uganda. He has driven exponential growth and shifted the behavior of millions and how they interact with finance. His extensive work in the East African, Middle Eastern, and European markets also became recognized benchmarks for innovation, inclusivity, and scale.

At Furaha, Dennis champions a bold mission: democratizing financial freedom. A relentless innovator, he leverages emerging technologies to dismantle barriers and fuel sustainable progress for underserved communities. His work doesn’t just adapt to change; it ignites it, embodying Furaha’s vision of a world where equitable access to finance elevates everyone.

For over two decades, Dennis has redefined digital transformation, merging strategic mastery with ground-breaking innovation to transform everyday lives. A trailblazer in fintech and financial services, he crafts scalable solutions that bridge ambition with impact—turning complex challenges into opportunities for empowerment.

From revolutionizing telecom ecosystems to deploying multiple African firsts, Dennis has excelled in various leadership roles at MTN Uganda realizing industry acclaim, driving exponential growth and shifting behavior of millions and how they interact with finance. His work in the telecom and fintech spaces became benchmarks for inclusivity and scale.

At Furaha, Dennis champions a bold mission: democratizing financial freedom. A relentless innovator, he leveraging emerging technologies to dismantle barriers, fuel sustainable progress for underserved communities. His work doesn’t just adapt to change—it ignites it, embodying Furaha’s vision of a world where equitable access to finance elevates everyone.

Jackline Ndwiga

Finance Lead

Jackline Ndwiga

Jackline is a seasoned finance leader with over 15 years of experience in driving business growth through innovative financial strategies. Known for fostering high-performing teams, she excels in process improvements, maximizing ROI, and leveraging data-driven insights to develop impactful financial plans. With substantial international experience, Jackline has successfully influenced diverse stakeholders across various levels and functions, providing strategic direction and business insights.

At Furaha, she leads the finance department, overseeing accounting, financial planning, reporting, and compliance while driving operational efficiency. Her values align with Furaha’s mission of empowering students through accessible school fees loans to achieve their educational goals.

Julian Gutierrez

Chief Technology Officer

Julian Gutierrez

Julian is a seasoned Chief Technology Officer with over 18 years of experience in IT strategy, infrastructure, and FinTech systems development. He specializes in artificial intelligence, blockchain, data management, and cybersecurity, driving innovation and digital transformation.

Known for his visionary leadership and problem-solving, he excels in aligning technology with business goals while managing multicultural teams effectively.

With Julian’s expertise, Furaha continues to innovate and deliver cutting-edge solutions, ensuring sustainable growth in a competitive FinTech landscape.

Edward Barlow Muwanga

Risk Lead

Edward Barlow Muwanga

Edward Muwanga Barlow serves as the Risk Lead at Furaha, where he is tasked with establishing and executing a robust Risk Management framework. His focus is on safeguarding Furaha’s strategic objectives, ensuring the company and its partners remain resilient and fit for growth.

Edward brings over 35 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry, specializing in enterprise-wide risk management across retail and corporate banking. His expertise spans governance, operational risk, AML compliance, and fostering a strong risk management culture.

Edward’s decades of industry expertise, coupled with his commitment to excellence and ethical leadership, align seamlessly with Furaha’s mission to deliver financial solutions that empower communities and drive sustainable growth.

Our
Board

Sunil Kaushal

Chairman Board of Directors

Dennis Musinguzi

Dennis, CEO at Furaha Financial brings over 20 Years of experience working at Uganda’s leading mobile money brand before joining Furaha. He boasts an impressive track record in areas like, product development, mobile money, and digital products.

Chris Flanagan

non-executive board member

Yustus Aribariho

Yustus, co-founder of Furaha Financial, brings over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. He possesses a wealth of knowledge in product design, technology, branding, and operations, with a particular focus on making finance more accessible and uplifting in Africa. Before joining Furaha, Yustus served as the Global Head of Digital Platforms at Standard Chartered Bank. He played a crucial role in launching Standard Chartered’s digital banks in nine African markets, developing and delivering digital banking solutions across Africa, Asia  and the Middle East. He boasts an impressive track record in areas like Consumer Banking, product development, credit cards, and risk management.

Yustus embodies the spirit of Furaha – making a positive impact with a smile.

Aaditya Bhave

non-executive board member

Dennis Musinguzi

Dennis, CEO at Furaha Financial brings over 20 Years of experience working at Uganda’s leading mobile money brand before joining Furaha. He boasts an impressive track record in areas like, product development, mobile money, and digital products.

Dan Karuga

non-executive board member

Ian Fernandes

Ian, co-founder of Furaha, champions financial empowerment across Africa. He brings over 16 years of experience from his time at the Standard Chartered Group, where he led strategic initiatives for Africa and the Middle East. Ian has been instrumental in launching 10 digital banks across Africa and Pakistan and has overseen strategic business sales. His impact goes beyond the financial aspect, as he is dedicated to promoting strong governance and developing frameworks that ensure operational excellence and ethical conduct. His expertise also extends to private equity, where he has identified investment opportunities focused on financial services and empowering consumers. 

Ian embodies the spirit of Furaha, using his expertise and passion to create a brighter future for Africa.

Sanjay Rughani

non-executive board member

Dennis Musinguzi

Dennis, CEO at Furaha Financial brings over 20 Years of experience working at Uganda’s leading mobile money brand before joining Furaha. He boasts an impressive track record in areas like, product development, mobile money, and digital products.

Our Partners

We are supported by market leading partners to match purpose with the right financing.

We invite you to experience the joy of finance driven by purpose.

We invite you to experience the joy of finance driven by purpose.