From green bonds to women in business programs, banks are now betting on a new approach Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | The seventh annual bankers’ conference, held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, was abuzz with pitches and plans on Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), a new agenda sweeping through businesses …
Read More »Uganda’s biggest banks record bumper profits amidst industry turmoil
Six banks adjust growth strategies, as Equity Bank dips into a loss territory Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda’s biggest banks recorded bumper profits in 2023 amidst industry turmoil that forced smaller banks to either divest their shares or voluntarily downgrade to credit institutions in response to the regulator’s revised …
Read More »BOU: Not regulations but competition leading to downgrade of banks
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Bank of Uganda has refuted claims that its tough regulatory requirements are leading its regulated financial institutions to downgrade to ease the regulatory pressures on them. This comes as the regulator (BoU) notified the public that three commercial banks (Tier I) had been downgraded …
Read More »ActionAid: Tax ‘surplus’ profits by oil firms and banks
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDENPENDENT | ActionAid International is urging countries including Uganda to impose taxes on surplus profits earned by fossil and the banking sectors. ActionAid International says a surplus profit technically known as a Windfall profit tax could generate as much as US$382 billion in revenue, an amount that …
Read More »Banks respond to rising mass affluence in Africa
Demand for goods and services expected to surge as continent’s middle class spend hits US$2.5 trillion by 2030 COMMENT | MARGARET SOI | The purchasing power of Africa’s middle class is expected to grow significantly in the coming years: the continent’s middle class is expected to spend US$2.1 trillion by …
Read More »African banks take over after international lenders exit
Local financial companies are capitalising on the opportunities left by international banks exiting Africa yet continue to struggle with the gap between perceived and actual risks in the market. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | In early 2022, UK-headquartered Standard Chartered Bank announced it was exiting five African countries and …
Read More »Banks, VISA forum seeks to promotes women’s economic empowerment
Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | In a concerted effort to champion women’s economic empowerment in Uganda, the Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA), in collaboration with VISA, hosted a pioneering forum at Mestil Hotel in Kampala on Oct. 24 underscoring the pivotal role of enhancing women’s access to tailored financial services and …
Read More »FRAUD: Banks, Telcoms urged to embrace Bug Bounty programs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Bankers Association has endorsed the Bug Bounty Program as part of efforts to improve the security of the financial industry against cybercrimes. The Bug Bounty is the monetary reward offered to ethical hackers who specifically uncover and document vulnerabilities for application developers. …
Read More »UBA: No more fines for repaying a bank loan early
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Commercial bank customers can now opt to pay their outstanding loan balances earlier than scheduled, without fear of being charged for the early clearance. This follows the decision made by the Regulated Financial Institutions under the Uganda Bankers Association (UBA) last month and communicated …
Read More »Stop EACOP shifts campaign to Chinese banks
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The stop EACOP campaigners are now targeting Chinese banks and insurance firms from funding the longest crude oil pipeline between Uganda and Tanzania. The latest move by the international and their local campaigners comes after they successfully fought off Western banks and insurance firms from …
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