Centenary Bank, MicroPay partner to digitise school fees, healthcare and insurance payments

Centenary Group has partnered with MicroPay Uganda to develop digital payment solutions for education, healthcare and insurance, in a move aimed at expanding financial inclusion and improving access to essential services.

The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Kampala, will be implemented through Centenary Technology Services (Cente-Tech), the group’s technology subsidiary.

The two firms said they will jointly develop digital platforms that enable households to pay school fees more flexibly, access healthcare services closer to their communities and simplify insurance premium payments and claims processing.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Mapeera House, Centenary Group Board Chairman Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu said the collaboration builds on the institution’s long-standing mission of extending financial services to underserved communities.

“Centenary’s story has always been about the people other institutions overlooked. We took banking to the market vendor, the smallholder farmer and families in trading centres far from any bank branch. That legacy now extends beyond banking to digital services that improve people’s daily lives,” he said.

Under the partnership, the education platform will enable parents and guardians to save towards school fees, pay in instalments and potentially access financing based on their payment history. Schools are also expected to benefit from improved visibility over fee collections and cash flows.

In healthcare, the partners plan to leverage digital platforms and agent networks to bring services closer to patients, reducing barriers associated with distance and payments.

The insurance solutions will focus on digitising access to policies, introducing more flexible premium payment options and speeding up claims processing.

Peter Kahiigi, Chief Technology Officer at Centenary Technology Services, said technology should bridge inequalities in access to essential services.

“ICT is an equaliser. A farmer with a phone should be able to access the same financial services as an executive in Kampala. When technology is designed well, it removes barriers created by geography and income,” he said.

Cente-Tech said it will leverage Centenary Group’s extensive network, including more than 9,000 Cente Agents across the country, to roll out the digital solutions beyond traditional banking channels.

Mr Kahiigi said the partnership’s success would be measured by improvements in customer experience rather than the signing of the agreement.

“Our measure of success is the first school term where fees are paid without queues and the first insurance claim that is processed in days instead of weeks,” he said.

MicroPay Uganda Chief Executive Officer Dr Grace Stuart Ndyareeba said the partnership combines the company’s more than 12 years of experience in digital payments with Centenary Group’s nationwide reach.

He said MicroPay, which is licensed by the Bank of Uganda as both a Payment Service Provider and a Payment System Operator, shares the government’s goal of expanding financial inclusion among Uganda’s largely unbanked population.

“The benefits of financial inclusion can only be fully realised through purposeful partnerships. By combining our expertise with Centenary Group’s community presence, we can transform access to essential services and create lasting impact,” he said.

The partners also indicated that successful solutions developed in Uganda could eventually be rolled out in other markets, including Malawi, where Centenary Group already has operations.

The collaboration comes as financial institutions increasingly invest in digital platforms to improve service delivery and reduce barriers to accessing education, healthcare and insurance, particularly in underserved communities.