Yesterday, November 7th 2023, Standard Chartered Bank marked the 2023 Purple Tuesday with a series of activities that included lighting the bank’s head office purple as well as hosted several persons with different abilities from a Futuremakers initiative involved in Agri-business where the bank offered them grants totalling to over UGX 170m to enhance their businesses. The event was presided over by Hon. Helen Grace Asamo, Minister of State for Disability in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
In this opinion, Sanjay Rughani, the Chief Executive Officer, of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda reiterates the importance and value of inclusivity and diversity especially towards People With Disabilities.
As the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, I am honoured to address the significance of Purple Tuesday and its relevance for our beloved country, Uganda. This global initiative calls on corporations, organisations, and society as a whole to reflect upon and embrace the necessary principles, practices and changes needed to be more inclusive, towards individuals with disabilities.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics’ last census report, 12.4% of the Ugandan population lives with some form of disability, implying that approximately 4.5 million Ugandans are persons with disabilities. Despite this staggering statistic, individuals with disabilities face discrimination and barriers due to a lack of access to inclusive systems and opportunities, perpetuated by negative myths and stereotypes, impacting their ability to fully participate in society and business.
In a world striving for progress, we must recognise the value of inclusivity in all aspects of our operations. By embracing Purple Tuesday, we not only affirm our commitment to diversity but also acknowledge the vast potential and talent that individuals with disabilities bring to the table.
We also improve our understanding of the needs of disabled people and encourage more organisations to make public commitments to implement sustainable changes. As Standard Chartered we are proud to have partnered with Purple Tuesday and are boldly recommitting to go beyond banking to improve the customer experience for persons with disabilities by increasing their accessibility at our bank premises and in our operations.
Going the extra mile
We deliver our disability initiatives through the Diversity & Inclusion agenda as it enables us to build a diverse and inclusive organisation in line with our mission to drive Commerce and Prosperity through our unique Diversity.
Through our organisational strategy, we have witnessed remarkable transformations that have not only benefitted our esteemed staff but also enriched the experiences of our valued clients. We have diligently worked towards enhancing our infrastructure, expanding our product offerings, and refining our services. These strides have bolstered our competitive edge and created an environment where everyone feels empowered and included.
Beyond our walls, we have taken pride in championing community initiatives that have touched countless lives. It is a privilege to be part of an organisation that has made a positive impact on our community. Through our collective efforts, we have demonstrated that inclusivity is not merely a concept but a tangible force for good.
Initiatives we have undertaken over the years include;
Clients
- Our digital proposition offers inclusive banking; We leverage our digital capabilities to drive financial inclusion among the Ugandan population by making banking easily accessible from anywhere. We offer best-in-class and inclusive digital solutions like our SC Mobile App, enabling clients to open accounts and transact online. This ensures that PWDs are also able to undertake their operations seamlessly and conveniently. We digitally provide solutions that protect our customer’s wealth and shareholder returns in the long term like the SC Shilingi funds.
- Supporting Persons with disabilities businesses; Over 99% of our clients use Straight2Bank to access channels for collections, payments, mobile wallet, trade finance, custody, and foreign exchange (FX) services with convenience and safety. We continue to register growth in our digital offering which enables us to increase efficiency and improve service levels for our PWD clients.
- Our Branches maintain inclusive design standards, which include easy ramp access, disabled persons’ parking spaces and specially equipped washrooms for our customers with disabilities. The lifts in our Speke Road Head Office are also equipped with voice announcers so that visually impaired users can know the floor number they need to get to.
Staff initiatives
We are committed to creating an environment where our PWDs colleagues can thrive and grow.
- We employ several persons with disabilities and have been intentional about giving equal opportunities to PWDs as part of the recruitment process over the years. They also enjoy benefits like flexible working arrangements, and 20 weeks of parental leave benefits irrespective of gender, relationship status or how a child comes to permanently join a family, among others.
- We have purchased software like JAWs and special equipment to support our employees living with disabilities to enable their smooth operation and efficiency.
- We undertake sensitisation and awareness sessions to ensure we are an inclusive organisation.
Lifting Participation in the communities and supporting PWDs through Futuremakers
- We promote greater economic inclusion for disadvantaged young people, especially women and people living with disabilities through our Futuremakers programme. Our EmployABLE programme helps to create job-ready PWDs by providing them with knowledge and skills, soft-skills training, career mentoring and job placements. The skills prepare PWDs to find jobs through work readiness and vocational training.
- Worked with communities to improve social services like education for the visually impaired, e.g, we renovated a classroom block, and donated braille machines and computers to Salaama School for the Blind located at Kisoga.
- Financial Wellbeing sessions: We have held several financial literacy sessions where we share insights on the healthy habit of money management and provide deeper understanding of personal finance management for PWDs. We also discuss debt management and personal investment planning for the future.
As I conclude, I take immense pride in the dedicated efforts of the Diversity & Inclusion committee that implements our disability, generational, gender and nationality agendas. This enables us to build a diverse and inclusive organisation in line with our mission to drive Commerce and Prosperity through our unique Diversity.
I particularly commend our Chief Technology and Operations Officer, John Mwesigye who has been a beacon of inspiration for many through his unwavering dedication to championing the cause of inclusivity and advocating for a disability-confident organisation.
As leaders in Uganda, we should emulate the footsteps of those who are championing disability causes like John Mwesigye and become catalysts for change in the inclusivity agenda.
As a nation known for its resilience and unity, Purple Tuesday serves as a poignant reminder of the potential that lies within our society. By wholeheartedly embracing this initiative, we can pave the way for a more inclusive future, where every individual, regardless of ability, is allowed to thrive.
As we stand at the forefront of this movement, let us continue to be driven by compassion, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Together, we can create a Uganda that is not only economically prosperous but also socially enriched, where the true measure of success lies in the inclusivity and well-being of all its citizens.
Let us move forward with purpose and conviction, knowing that our actions today will shape the landscape of tomorrow. Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time.