Bank of kigali chief executive officer James Gatera has been nominated for this year’s Africa’s most prestigious business awards, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leader (AABLA) of the Year Award for East Africa.Other nominees are Jonathan Ciano, the Uchumi Supermarkets chief executive officer and group managing director and Chase Bank Kenya chief executive officer Duncan Kibui.The three CEOs are part of the 12 finalists for the AABLA awards ceremony that takes place today evening at the Kigali Serena Hotel. Now in its second year, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders awards pay homage to the achievements of visionary individuals as the continent asserts its place at the world economic table, AABLA said. In other categories, Joanne Mwangi, founder and chief executive officer of Professional Marketing Services Group, Diamond Trust Bank Group chief executive officer Nasim Devji and Priya Budhabatti, the head of human resources at Craft Silicon Kenya ICT and Craft Silicon Foundation Kenya are competing for the Business Woman of the Year Award.Peter Nduati, the founder and chief executive officer of Resolution Health East Africa Limited, Chase Bank Group managing director Zafrullah Khan and Patrick Bitature, the Simba Telecoms Group of Companies East Africa founder, chairman and chief executive officer are vying for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.Young Business Leader of the Year Award nominees are Kamal Budhabatti, the founder and chief executive officer of Craft Silicon ICT Kenya, Trans-Century Group chief executive officer and managing director Gachao Kiuna and Joshua Oigara, the Kenya Commercial Bank Group chief executive officer.AABLA said in a statement over the weekend the East African finalists were nominated because of their game-changing contributions to the East African business landscape. They will also contend for the opportunity to enter the national round for Africa’s most ground-breaking business person accolade in their respective fields. "This year, we received a lot of entries from all countries across East Africa. There was also an increase in the number of entries, especially in the categories for Business Woman of the Year and Young Business Leader of the Year. The quality of entries has greatly improved compared to last year, which is a good indicator of the quality of leadership in East Africa,” Mary Waceke, the chief judge of the East Africa round of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards, said in the statement."As judges, we are looking for leaders who have made a significant and distinctive contribution in their respective sectors,” Waceke said. "Across all categories, the winner has to exemplify outstanding leadership in business by demonstrating innovation, best business practices and accountability, together with intangible qualities such as integrity and a shared vision.” The winners from each region will automatically qualify for the grand finale to be hosted in Durban, South Africa later this year.