Visa Appoints Victor Makere as New Country Manager for Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda

Visa has announced the appointment of Victor Makere as the new Country Manager for Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, marking a strategic move to deepen its presence across East Africa’s key markets.

In his new role, Victor will oversee Visa’s operations in the four countries, focusing on expanding the company’s digital payment solutions, enhancing client relationships, and driving strategic growth. He is tasked with managing a broad portfolio of clients, increasing Visa’s revenue impact, and leading the implementation of new products and services across the region.

Strengthening East Africa’s Digital Payment Ecosystem

According to Chad Pollock, Vice President and General Manager for East Africa at Visa, Victor’s appointment aligns with Visa’s broader mission of fostering financial inclusion and building a robust digital payments infrastructure across the region.

“We are delighted to welcome Victor to the Visa East Africa leadership team,” said Pollock. “With his distinguished track record in digital financial services, merchant acquiring, and strategic business development, we look forward to his significant contributions to Visa’s efforts to enhance financial inclusion and expand digital commerce across Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.”

A Vision for Inclusive Growth

Victor expressed optimism about joining Visa and emphasized his commitment to furthering financial innovation and inclusion across the region.

“I am excited to join Visa and play a key role in accelerating the growth of digital payments across these four countries,” he said. “Visa’s commitment to financial innovation and inclusion aligns perfectly with my vision for transforming the payments landscape. I look forward to collaborating with our clients, partners, and stakeholders to deliver cutting-edge, secure, and seamless payment solutions that drive economic growth and empower businesses and consumers.”

A Proven Leader in Digital Finance

Victor Makere brings years of experience and a strong track record in mobile payments, digital banking, and strategic partnerships. Most recently, he served as Head of Merchant Payments at Airtel Money Tanzania, where he led the development and execution of mobile and merchant payment strategies.

He has also held senior leadership roles at CRDB Bank and Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania, where he played pivotal roles in advancing merchant acquiring solutions and digital banking innovation. While at CRDB, Victor represented the bank through the Tanzania Bankers Association (TBA) and was instrumental in promoting interoperability across financial networks, helping modernize Tanzania’s digital payments landscape.

Visa’s Broader Mission in the Region

Victor’s appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its efforts to strengthen financial ecosystems across Africa. The company has been actively expanding partnerships with banks, telcos, fintechs, and governments to enable secure, scalable, and inclusive payment systems. This appointment underscores Visa’s intent to enhance local leadership as it scales innovations tailored to regional needs.