Africa-Press – Uganda. Opportunity Bank Uganda has marked 30 years of service in Uganda’s financial sector with a celebratory dinner at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive banking and community transformation.
The milestone celebration coincided with the opening of the Bank’s 25th branch in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Kamwenge District.
Founded in 1995 as a small microcredit initiative, Opportunity Bank has evolved into a fully licensed Tier II Credit Institution, now serving more than 520,000 customers across Uganda.
Over three decades, it has positioned itself as a trusted financial partner for individuals and communities traditionally excluded from mainstream banking—offering tailored solutions to refugees, smallholder farmers, women, youth, schools, and persons with disabilities.
At the 30th anniversary dinner, the Bank hosted distinguished guests including Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba; Mr. Atul Tandon, CEO of Opportunity International (U.S.); Mr. Dan Murray, CEO of Opportunity International Canada; Anke Luckja, CEO of Opportunity International Germany; Mrs. Mary Oakes, CEO of Opportunity International UK; and Ms. ABi Nana François, CEO of Opportunity Microfinance Investments Ltd.
They were joined by the Chairperson of Opportunity Bank’s Board, Mrs. Jacqueline Kobusingye Opondo, alongside development partners, clients, and long-serving staff.
Speaking at the event, CEO Owen Amanya described the anniversary as a celebration of “30 years of changing stories.”
“From refugees rebuilding their lives to women leading small businesses, from rural schools to persons with disabilities—we exist for the people who have been told ‘no’ too many times. We are proud to be their ‘yes,’” he said.
Opportunity Bank’s new branch in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement—home to more than 110,000 refugees—becomes its second in a refugee-hosting community, following the landmark Nakivale branch. The facility will provide specialized credit, digital banking, and financial literacy programs for both refugees and host communities, with a focus on agriculture.
The Bank currently supports over 19,000 refugees, 21,000 smallholder farmers, 40,000 persons with disabilities, and finances 1,510 schools across the country. Its savings portfolio stands at shs175 billion, with a loan book of shs165 billion.
Additionally, through partnerships with 10 insurance providers, the Bank has expanded bancassurance services to thousands of households and small businesses.
Opportunity Bank has also invested heavily in digital transformation, deploying 520 agent bankers, rolling out a mobile app, and launching internet banking in 2022—enabling customers to access modern financial services, including instant interbank transfers.
For clients like Evans Senabulya, Founder of Ridgeway Schools, the Bank has been a lifeline.
“Opportunity Bank gave us a loan when no bank could offer us one. They believed in our dream before anyone else did. Today, we have four Ridgeway Schools with thousands of students. Their support was more than financial—it was the reason we’re here today,” he said.
As Opportunity Bank looks ahead, it remains committed to its mission of driving financial inclusion and economic transformation.
“Our story is one of people, not profits,” Amanya emphasized. “We remain committed to being a force for good in Uganda’s financial sector—offering not just services, but partnership, respect, and hope.”
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