Centenary Bank contributes 86 million shillings to Kampala City Festival, waste management

KAMPALA, UGANDA — Centenary Bank contributed 86 million Ugandan shillings to the Kampala Capital City Authority on Thursday for the upcoming Kampala City Festival and the “Weyonje” waste management campaign.

The bank is allocating 50 million shillings to the festival and 36 million shillings to the waste management initiative.

“As a bank, we are proud to celebrate with Kampala, its culture, innovation, and sustainability,” said Joseph Kiwanuka Balikuddembe, Centenary Bank’s executive director. “Through this contribution, we hope to contribute to the city’s symbol of unity, creative expression, and economic development as the city looks toward the future.”

The Kampala City Festival is scheduled for Oct. 5. The annual event, organized by KCCA, draws thousands of people and showcases the city’s culture, art, music, and food.

Balikuddembe said the bank is resuming its participation in the festival after an eight-year break. The contribution highlights the bank’s commitment to community development and environmental sustainability.

“We recognize that a thriving city is key to economic growth, and addressing challenges like waste management is central to creating an environment where businesses and people can prosper,” Balikuddembe said.

According to a 2023-24 report from the Office of the Auditor General, only 37% of more than 4 million metric tons of solid waste generated in the country was collected and disposed of over the last three years. The report noted that cities collected 34.4% of their waste, while municipalities collected 50%.

KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki said public-private partnerships are crucial to achieving the city’s development goals.

“Kampala belongs to all of us and keeping it vibrant, clean, and inclusive requires collective effort,” Buzeki said. “We thank Centenary Bank for demonstrating leadership in corporate citizenship through this generous contribution.”

Balikuddembe said Centenary Bank, which has served the city for more than 40 years, allocates 2% of its previous year’s profit to corporate social initiatives like waste management, environmental conservation, and health and education programs.

The bank has installed solar power in 10 of its branches, planted more than 100,000 trees in the past two years, and donated over 80 waste bins to the city.