The banking sector regulator, Bank of Uganda (BoU) has awarded Centenary Bank with an accolade for the best agricultural finance partner following the bank’s excellent role in promoting farming activities within the country.
The declaration was made during the inaugural annual agriculture sector awards event, by Bank of Uganda’s Executive Director for finance.
The award was handed over by Kyakulaga Bwiino, state Minister for agriculture who also doubles as the Patron of the awards ceremony.
“ I am honored to hand over this maiden grand award of agriculture financer of the year award to Centenary Bank and implore you to continue supporting the agriculture sector through enabling agriculture finance access by our farmers and agriprenuers,” Hon Bwiino noted.
Centenary bank beat five other financial institutions including; Stanbic bank, Post bank, Pride Microfinance, Equity bank, and Opportunity bank that had made it to the nomination list for the agrifinance award for this year.
It must be emphasized that this was the first awards ceremony to recognize agriculture financing institutions in Uganda.
Hon Bwiino also noted that his line ministry of agriculture appreciates development partners like the banks which have continuously financed the agro sector by enabling rural based farmers to access adequate funding for their agro projects.
Grace Musimami, Chief Executive Officer of the Annual Agriculture Awards revealed that the annual ceremony was created to inculcate a culture of appreciation for great service and to reward and motivate all good players within this broad agro industry.
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“We have given the farmers the due appreciation they deserve but the farmer does not do it alone. We have scientists, teachers, extension workers, policy makers, financers, and other players, without whom the farmer can never flourish. With this in mind, we started these awards to recognize all players involved,” said Musimami during the ceremony.
In his award acceptance speech, on behalf of his bank, OOpolot Emmy Paul – Centenary Bank’s Head of market linkage projects expressed his gratitude towards the agriculture sector for the bank’s recognition. He further stated that Centenary bank is fully committed to serving the farmer through the bank’s various agriculture products.
“We appreciate this award,” he said. Adding that: “ we believe it is well deserved since at our bank we believe agriculture comes first before everything, our agriculture portfolio continues to grow bigger and this will go a long way to inspire and motivate the bank further,” Mr Opolot stated.
The event’s Chief Guest was State Minister for Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon Bright Rwamirama.
He appealed to all sector players to work with zeal to ensure their works are recognized. Saying the culture to appreciate good deeds is one that will help ensure good service delivery and also kill the spirit of corruption which is rampant in the country.
“For long we have been appreciating farmers alone, I am glad now every sector player is on the watch on what he or she is doing. We need to appreciate each other. Most vices have come up because our people do not have the spirit of confidence in themselves. At this same platform we should also plan to display those failing the sector,” said Hon Rwamirama.
The annual event sponsors included the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, in partnership with United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Sasakawa Africa Association and Agri-Insurance Consortium . and sector regulator Bank Of Uganda
