The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | dfcu Bank Limited has launched its inaugural Report to Society 2025, documenting how its banking operations and community investment initiatives have contributed to Uganda’s economic development, financial inclusion and community wellbeing.
The launch at Serena Hotel – Kigo brought together leaders from dfcu Limited, dfcu Bank and dfcu Foundation, alongside customers, stakeholders and partners. The report consolidated evidence of dfcu’s work financing SMEs, supporting women entrepreneurs, strengthening agricultural value chains, expanding financial access and advancing community development, alongside environmental initiatives.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Winifred Mary Tarinyeba Kiryabwire, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of dfcu Bank Limited, said for more than six decades, dfcu has been part of Uganda’s economic transformation, supporting businesses, expanding financial inclusion and creating opportunities for individuals and communities.
“We recognise that our responsibility extends beyond financial performance to the contribution we make to the society that sustains our business. Our inaugural Report to Society brings that responsibility into focus. It documents the impact of our work while reinforcing the importance of sound governance, transparent reporting and responsible decision-making. We are sharing these results not simply to celebrate our progress, but to give our stakeholders a basis on which to assess our contribution and challenge us to do more.”
The report highlighted dfcu Bank’s Women in Business programme, which has supported more than 80,000 women entrepreneurs.
Charles M. Mudiwa, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of dfcu Bank Limited, said Uganda’s understanding of sustainability did not begin with the introduction of environmental, social and governance frameworks.
“Our communities have long understood the importance of protecting the natural world, preserving what matters and ensuring that future generations can benefit from what has been entrusted to them. That same principle applies to banking. Our customers and stakeholders entrust us with their money, their businesses and their confidence. We therefore have a responsibility to account for how we use those resources and what they help us achieve. This report is our first comprehensive step in bringing that account to the public and demonstrating how dfcu has contributed to the livelihoods, enterprises and communities that make up Uganda.”
The report recorded that dfcu Bank financed 6,527 SMEs in 2025. Its community health interventions reached more than 25,000 Ugandans, including through a three-year partnership with Rotary Uganda committing UGX 1 billion to community medical camps offering free outpatient consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, dental and eye care, health education and referrals, alongside screening for hypertension, diabetes, HIV, cancer and sickle cell disease. Recent outreaches included camps in Jinja, Mbuya, Mutungo, Kasenyi Landing Site and Kamwokya.
Dr. James Ssemwanga, Chairperson of the dfcu Foundation, said the Foundation’s transition from a Business Development Centre in 2024 strengthened its role in enterprise development and financial inclusion, particularly for businesses in the “missing middle”:
“Uganda’s economic growth depends not only on helping businesses start, but also on enabling promising enterprises to become stronger, more productive and more resilient. Many businesses have the potential to grow, create jobs and support wider value chains, yet they need more than capital alone. They need the skills, partnerships, market connections and financial services that can help them move to the next stage. Since 2018, dfcu Foundation has supported more than 4,000 enterprises and reached over 80,000 beneficiaries, the majority of whom are women and young people. In 2025, we facilitated approximately UGX 38 billion in credit, helping enterprises access formal financial services and invest in growth. Our ambition for 2025–2030 is to support more than 100,000 additional beneficiaries by strengthening enterprises, connecting value chains and building productive market ecosystems.”
The report cited sh38.08 billion in financing facilitated through dfcu Foundation.
Jimmy D. Mugerwa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of dfcu Limited, said as the holding company, dfcu Limited provides strategic direction and oversight to the Group, with a responsibility to create sustainable value for our shareholders while contributing meaningfully to Uganda’s development.
“This report demonstrates how the work of dfcu Bank and dfcu Foundation has translated that responsibility into practical initiatives supporting businesses, communities and livelihoods. For us, the long-term success of dfcu cannot be measured by financial results alone. It must also be reflected in the opportunities we help create, the resilience of the communities we serve and the contribution we make to Uganda’s economic future. We hope this initiative encourages a wider culture of transparency in which responsible businesses report not only on what they earn, but also on what they contribute to society.”
The report also highlighted environmental initiatives, including a reported 62,000 trees planted or distributed in 2025.
Helena Mayanja, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at dfcu Bank Limited, said the report shows what happens when finance opens doors, enables businesses to grow and creates opportunities that extend beyond the immediate customer relationship.
“Behind every figure are people, enterprises and communities whose progress matters. Our inaugural Report to Society connects those stories with the results we have recorded across women’s entrepreneurship, SME financing, community health, enterprise development and environmental initiatives. It is an opportunity to demonstrate how our purpose of transforming lives and businesses in Uganda translates into practical action, while strengthening our commitment to credible measurement, transparency and continuous improvement.”
Among those present at the event were Dr. Jeff Sebuyira-Mukasa, Dr. Danny Zandamela, George Njuguna MBS, Millie Nkaja, Amanda Kabagambe and Mark William Springett, Non-Executive Directors of dfcu Bank Limited; Kate K. Kiiza, Executive Director and Chief Corporate and Institutional Banking Officer; Margaret Karume, Executive Director and Chief Credit Officer; and Maryann Wanjiku Michuki, Chief Business Solutions and Marketing Officer, amongst other senior members of the dfcu Bank management committee.
Representing the dfcu Limited Board were Francis Gimara SC, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Fred Pelser, CPA FCCA Keto Nyapendi Kayemba and Barbra Teddy Arimi, alongside Sophie Achak, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of dfcu Limited. The dfcu Foundation was represented by Mabel Ndawula, Executive Director; Kate Kiiza, Non-Executive Director; and Dr. Victoria Sekitoleko, Board Member.
Other attendees included Rosemary McGarvey, Chairperson of the Women Business Advisory Council; Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, Immediate Past District Governor and District Learning Facilitator of Rotary District 9213; and Karthik Palan, the event host from Serena.
Established in 1964 as a development finance institution, dfcu has supported Uganda’s economic development across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, education, health, tourism, construction, transport and trade. The report was made available to the public through dfcu Bank’s official website.
