In one of Uganda’s fastest-growing financial institutions, let’s call it ABC Financial, a middle manager named Sharon stumbled on a buried truth. She wasn’t snooping, but she had been asked to compile data for a quarterly performance report. She opened the shared folder the director had left open, and there it was: a PowerPoint titled “Strategic Realignment, High-Cost Units.” Slide 5 hit her like a stone. “Branch X — Underperforming. Recommend closure or integration.” That was her branch, her team, and her people. She wiped her face again to make sure she was reading right. Not once had anyone hinted,…

Forget policies. Forget charters. The real governance of any organization is shaped by one invisible force: boardroom culture. Boardroom culture is the unwritten code of how directors behave when no one is watching, how they challenge, how they listen, and how they decide. It is the mood, the mindset, and how governance plays out around the board table. You can have a world-class governance manual… But if your boardroom is gripped by fear, apathy, or groupthink, it’s worthless. Why boardroom culture defines governance In a toxic culture, tough questions are avoided. Bad news is sugar-coated. Real risks hide in plain…