Clare Akamanzi is expanding basketball across Africa to drive economic growth, youth empowerment, and development.
Clare Akamanzi became the CEO of NBA Africa in January 2024, but her journey to the top of Africa’s sports business scene started long before basketball entered the picture. A Rwandan lawyer and global policy expert, Akamanzi was born in 1979 in Uganda to Rwandan refugee parents. She built a formidable career in international trade, investment, and economic development before stepping into the world of professional sports.
Before joining the NBA, she led the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) from 2017 to 2023, where she transformed Rwanda into a business-friendly hub by implementing private sector reforms that propelled the country into the top 40 of the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings. During her six-year tenure, Rwanda experienced a significant increase in foreign direct investment and created over 100,000 jobs. She also championed tourism and launched the now-renowned “Visit Rwanda” campaign, securing high-profile partnerships with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and the NBA itself.
Beyond her role at RDB, she served as Head of Strategy and Policy for President Paul Kagame, represented Rwanda as a commercial diplomat in London, and worked as a trade negotiator at the World Trade Organisation in Geneva. She chaired ATL, the aviation holding company overseeing RwandAir, Akagera Aviation, and Kigali International Airport. Her experience with the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation further expanded her influence in global development and investment.
Akamanzi’s academic credentials are equally impressive. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in Uganda, a Master of Laws in international trade and investment from the University of Pretoria, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. In 2018, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Concordia University.
Becoming CEO of NBA Africa, recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and listed among Forbes Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women, Akamanzi brings a clear vision for NBA Africa. The aim is to utilise basketball as a tool for economic growth, youth empowerment, and continental unity.
As CEO of NBA Africa, Clare Akamanzi oversees the NBA’s basketball and commercial initiatives across the continent, including the ongoing expansion of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Her strategy centres on four key pillars: grassroots development, infrastructure enhancement, commercial expansion, and social impact. She is advocating for the construction of 1,000 basketball courts across Africa within the next decade and scaling youth-focused programmes such as Jr. NBA and Basketball Without Borders that train young players, coaches, and referees.
In her role, the businesswoman is now applying her development approach to sport. Her objective is to leverage basketball as a catalyst for social and economic progress, and her early achievements demonstrate that this is working. She has overseen the continued growth of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), helping to expand operations across five major African cities: Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Nairobi.
Since her appointment, BAL attendance has reached record levels, with over 140,000 spectators recorded during the 2025 season. According to Clare Akamanzi, there has been steady growth in key areas such as ticket sales, merchandise, and YouTube viewership, which increased by 70% in just one year. Her team has also strengthened corporate sponsorships with brands like Nike, Wilson, Hennessy, New Fortress, AGA-Africa, and Visit Rwanda, enhancing the league’s financial sustainability and visibility.
Since its inception, the BAL has contributed $250 million to Africa’s GDP and created 37,000 jobs – a trajectory that Clare Akamanzi is now accelerating through expanded grassroots initiatives, strategic partnerships, and infrastructure development.
