Centenary, Huawei target rural Uganda in AI banking partnership

KAMPALA — Centenary Rural Development Group Limited and Huawei Technologies Uganda have signed a strategic partnership aimed at using artificial intelligence and cloud computing to expand financial services in rural Uganda.

The agreement, signed Thursday in Shanghai, China, is expected to accelerate digital banking services for farmers, traders and small-business owners who continue to face limited access to formal financial systems.

Officials said the partnership will focus on deploying intelligent banking systems, modernising digital infrastructure and improving access to credit, especially in underserved rural and peri-urban communities where most of Centenary’s customers are located.

John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the chairman of Centenary Group, described the collaboration as one of the institution’s most significant technology partnerships in decades.

“Huawei brings global depth while Centenary brings local mission and deep community trust,” he said.

“Together, we are building something that will matter to millions of Africans.”

Centenary Bank currently serves more than four million customers across Uganda, with a large proportion drawn from rural communities.

Bank executives said integrating cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence and real-time data systems will help speed up credit assessment and improve customer response times, particularly for borrowers traditionally excluded from mainstream banking services.

Fabian Kasi, the managing director of Centenary Bank, said the partnership would help the bank respond to growing demand for faster and smarter financial services.

The agreement outlines cooperation in eight areas, including digital infrastructure development, cloud computing, innovation, research, enterprise modernisation and staff training.

The partnership follows a visit by Centenary executives to Huawei’s global headquarters in Shenzhen earlier this year, where the delegation studied international digital banking systems and emerging financial technologies.

Grace Ssekakubo, the chief executive officer of Centenary Technology Services, said the collaboration would strengthen the group’s internal capacity in artificial intelligence, data governance and advanced digital systems management.

Zhang Hao, the managing director of Huawei Uganda, said the company would leverage its global experience working with thousands of financial institutions to support Uganda’s digital banking transformation.

He said Uganda is emerging as one of Africa’s most dynamic digital financial markets.

Officials said the initiative aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, the Digital Transformation Roadmap and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

Centenary officials added that the group’s Tier 3 data centre in Masaka will serve as a key operational hub supporting the rollout of the new rural digital infrastructure.