BPR Bank Rwanda, the largest banking network in Rwanda, has appointed Xavier Mugisha Shema as acting managing director following the planned departure of Patience Mutesi on Oct. 31, handing interim leadership to a banking executive with experience across commercial banking, credit management and business expansion.

The transition comes as the lender continues integrating its operations under KCB Group. The bank said Shema, currently executive director for commercial businesses, will assume the acting role on Nov. 1, subject to regulatory approvals. BPR will begin the process of recruiting a substantive managing director, leaving Shema to oversee the lender during the leadership transition.

Leadership changes at BPR

Mutesi took over as managing director in February 2023, leading the bank through a period of operational integration and business transformation. In announcing her departure, BPR’s board credited her with improving business performance and customer experience following the consolidation of KCB Bank Rwanda and Banque Populaire du Rwanda.

“The Board of Directors and the Management Team acknowledge her decision with regret and extend their sincere appreciation for her leadership and dedicated service since taking over as the MD in February 2023,” the bank said in a public notice.

The lender added that Mutesi had spearheaded its transformation following the merger and wished Shema success as he assumes interim responsibilities. Her departure ends a tenure that began after BPR’s integration into KCB Group, one of East Africa’s largest banking groups, Under her leadership, the bank reported a profit of RWF 40.8 billion ($27.6 million) and total assets of RWF 1.4 trillion ($947.2 million) for the 2025 financial year.

Shema brings banking experience

Shema joined BPR’s executive leadership as executive director for commercial businesses in December 2024, after holding senior positions at other Rwandan lenders. His experience spans business development, corporate banking, credit risk, relationship management and commercial strategy, areas central to BPR’s efforts to serve businesses and retail customers across Rwanda.

Before returning to BPR, he served as deputy managing director of Bank of Africa from May to November 2024 and commercial director at Equity Bank Rwanda from April 2022 to April 2024. Earlier, he was chief business officer at BPR Atlas Mara between May 2020 and April 2022.

His previous roles also include country head of retail banking at BPR, head of business banking at the lender and relationship manager at I&M Bank Rwanda, where he worked from October 2009 to August 2016. The sequence of positions gives him experience across commercial and retail banking as he takes on the acting managing director role.

Merger shapes bank’s priorities

BPR traces its roots to 1975 and became part of KCB Group after the Kenyan banking group acquired a majority stake in Banque Populaire du Rwanda in 2021. The merger with KCB Bank Rwanda was completed in April 2022, combining the businesses under a single institution with a wider national footprint.

The consolidation brought together two banking operations as KCB Group expanded its presence in Rwanda. Since then, BPR has worked to integrate its business while serving corporate clients, small businesses and individual customers through its branch network and digital channels.

Serving more than 900,000

Customers BPR serves more than 900,000 customers through a network of more than 70 branches, alongside agents and merchants. Its reach across Rwanda gives the lender a substantial role in retail and business banking, with the leadership transition taking place as it continues to develop services for different customer segments.

Shema’s immediate task will be to maintain business continuity while the board pursues a permanent appointment. His background in commercial banking and previous leadership roles at BPR and competing lenders could prove relevant as the bank manages its next phase under KCB Group.