By Mulengera Reporters
On Thursday, June 26, Equity Bank Uganda took centre stage at the “Community of Practice” workshop held at the Mastercard Foundation offices in Kampala, reaffirming its crucial role in advancing financial inclusion and youth empowerment under the Young Africa Works programme.
The workshop brought together development partners and financial sector stakeholders including Financial Sector Deepening Uganda, Ripple Effect, Goal Uganda, the Bank of Uganda, and the Mastercard Foundation itself, all sharing a common interest, of increasing access to financial services and creating economic opportunities for Uganda’s young population.
Equity Bank Uganda, a key implementing partner in the Young Africa Works strategy, used the platform to highlight its achievements and ongoing interventions in reaching underserved youth, particularly women, rural entrepreneurs, and refugees.
Speaking during the workshop, Ms. Immaculate Bukko, who oversees Partnerships Coordination and Advocacy in the bank’s Social Investments and Public Sector division, outlined Equity Bank’s multi-pronged approach.
She explained that the bank’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation focuses on reducing barriers such as limited access to credit, lack of digital skills, and poor financial literacy among young people.
According to Bukko, Equity Bank has prioritised inclusive growth by offering financial literacy training alongside access to affordable credit, ensuring that beneficiaries do not only receive loans, but are also equipped with the knowledge to manage them.
She noted that Equity’s programmes are designed to be practical, accessible, and aligned with the realities facing Uganda’s youth.
Also present was Ms. Justine Namata, Head of the Financial Innovations and Development Section at the Bank of Uganda, who acknowledged the role played by Equity Bank in promoting financial literacy, but encouraged an even broader approach.
She called for more education around insurance, retirement planning, and digital financial services, especially for women and youth. She also emphasised the importance of regular training reports as a way to track progress and inform future interventions.
The Bank’s position as a financial inclusion leader was clearly reflected in its response. The bank’s initiatives, backed by the Mastercard Foundation and other partners, are built to scale sustainably, ensuring that the support offered can reach more beneficiaries over time.
The approach combines financing, mentorship, and business development support (a strategy that has already seen strong results).
As part of the broader Young Africa Works agenda, over 3.8 million young people have so far been engaged through various interventions, with at least 1.3 million transitioned into meaningful employment.
Equity Bank has played a major role in reaching these numbers, especially through its countrywide network and focus on community-based engagement.
The workshop served as a platform to review progress and shape the next phase of implementation. With a shared commitment to knowledge sharing, collaboration, and youth-centred design, the Bank and its partners continue to chart a path aimed at empowering Uganda’s next generation through responsible finance and skills development. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
