STAFF WRITER
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has appointed Ebson Uanguta as governor of the Bank of Namibia, with effect from 1 January 2026.
He will serve for a period of five years and succeeds Johannes !Gawaxab, the outgoing governor of the Bank of Namibia.
Uanguta served as deputy governor of the Bank of Namibia from 1 January 2012, during which time he contributed to the bank’s policy formulation, governance, and oversight functions.
Nandi-Ndaitwah “expressed confidence in Uanguta’s ability to execute his duties with professionalism, commitment, fairness, integrity, and loyalty to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Namibia, while upholding the mandate of the Bank of Namibia.”
The Bank of Namibia welcomed the appointment of Uanguta.
“The Bank of Namibia congratulates Mr. Ebson Uanguta on his appointment as the 7th Governor of the Bank of Namibia by H.E. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The board, management, and staff affirm their full institutional support as he assumes office and leads the Bank through its next phase of stewardship,” the bank said in a statement.
Bank of Namibia spokesperson Kazembire Zemburuka said Uanguta has nearly 30 years of experience in economic policy development, macroeconomic research, and leadership roles in central banking.
He began his career as a researcher at the now-defunct Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit, a leading think tank that provided economic analysis and policy guidance to support development goals during the post-independence period, the bank said in a statement.
Uanguta’s career at the Bank of Namibia started thereafter and has included key positions such as economist, senior economist, director of research, and deputy governor, providing him with deep expertise in both the technical and strategic aspects of central banking.
He has authored and co-authored published articles in peer-reviewed journals, both regionally and internationally, covering topics related to central banking and the macroeconomy.
Uanguta previously served as an advisor at the International Monetary Fund, representing African nations within the global monetary institution.
Uanguta was also seconded to establish Namibia’s revenue collection agency and recently served as acting managing director of the. National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia
Uanguta holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) and a BA Honours in Economics from the University of Namibia.
He has completed several advanced executive leadership programmes at Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is widely respected for his analytical depth, policy discipline, and integrity, the Bank said.
Zemburuka said Uanguta’s appointment comes at a critical moment as the Bank advances major reforms, including payments modernisation, financial market deepening, reserve diversification, and the rollout of strategic initiatives under the 2025–2027 Strategic Plan.
“The bank assures the public, the financial sector, and international partners of its continued commitment to maintaining price stability, enhancing financial system resilience, and promoting inclusive economic growth under his stewardship,” said Zemburuka.
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