Equity Bank awards the Bishop Rwenzori Diocese, Bishop Reuben Kisembo – SME Business Influencer Award
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Entrepreneurs have embraced it everywhere it has reached. Equity Bank Uganda’s “Tupange Business Ne Equity”, a customer engagement campaign which provides essential financial support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country has proved to be the turnkey to investors from border to border.
This has depicted Equity Bank’s commitment to fostering SME growth nationwide. When it reached Fort Portal city recently, entrepreneurs, traders, and community leaders convened to network and envision a brighter future for regional business.
Felix Babeiha, the Equity Branch Manager in Fort Portal, said they value each and every customer and are committed to giving them dignity in whatever aspect of life they do business.
Being the 3rd regional event following successful customer engagement events in Arua and Mbale, the Fort Portal leg saw customers listening, engaging, networking and empowering participants as Equity Bank staff and business speakers provided insights on the current challenges facing SMES and solutions towards overcoming them.
Professor Alex Ariho, the African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN) Chief Executive Officer and Founding Director of Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness Incubator Limited (EHCAI) delivered the keynote address.
He urged SMEs to adopt innovation, skills development, and collaboration for long-term success.
He noted that SMEs represent 90% of global businesses and could generate up to 80% of Uganda’s employment opportunities if properly supported: “If you succeed, the economy succeeds,” noted Prof. Ariho.
He further encouraged entrepreneurs to prioritize value addition, resilience, and a growth-oriented mindset.
Olivia Mugaba, the Equity Bank Uganda Head of SMEs highlighted SMEs as the backbone of the economy, driving transformation in Uganda and beyond. “Together, we must support and strengthen this backbone of our economy,” she noted.
Robert Wanok, Equity Bank Uganda’s Head of Retail – Corporate Banking reflected on Equity Bank’s evolution, saying that the journey has always been guided by our customers.
“Over the years, we have taken deliberate steps to listen closely to their feedback. Through an internal clean-up and accountability exercise, we have enhanced our service delivery to respond better to their needs, because customer feedback is at the heart of everything we do.”
The event also honoured local SME leaders that saw Equity Bank presented with the SME Ecosystem Customer Award to Mubunga Samuel, Managing Director of Mubunga Investments Multipurpose Co. Ltd., a distributor of Uganda Breweries Limited in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts.
The SME Customer Loyalty Award went to Prof. Edward Bitanywaine Rugumayo of Tooro Botanical Gardens, while the SME Business Influencer Award was given to Rt. Rev. Bishop Reuben Kisembo of the Rwenzori Diocese.
These recognitions underscored the role of leadership, loyalty, and influence in strengthening business communities.
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