Kampala, Uganda — Centenary Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating women’s financial inclusion and long-term wealth creation through a major partnership with United Nations Development Programme, unveiling the transformative She Counts Fair aimed at equipping Ugandan women with practical tools to build financial independence and sustainable wealth.
Launched in Kampala on Tuesday, the initiative seeks to shift the national conversation around women’s financial participation from basic survival and savings to strategic investing, wealth accumulation, and economic leadership.
Speaking at the launch, Centenary Bank Managing Director Fabian Kasi said the time had come to challenge outdated perceptions that have long limited women’s financial ambitions.
“For too long, conversations around women and finance have been confined to micro-survival and basic savings,” Kasi said.
“The She Counts initiative is about changing that narrative and empowering women to grow, invest, and build lasting financial security.”
The initiative comes at a critical moment as Uganda pushes toward middle-income status by 2027, with women increasingly emerging as central drivers of economic growth and resilience.
Women-owned businesses currently account for nearly 40 percent of Uganda’s micro and small enterprises, contributing significantly to the MSME sector, which represents approximately 80 percent of the country’s GDP.
Despite these gains, financial capability gaps remain a major challenge.
According to the 2020 Bank of Uganda Financial Capability Survey, financial literacy among women stands at 45 percent compared to 53 percent among men, a disparity Centenary Bank says it is determined to close.
Kasi noted that empowering women with financial knowledge is not simply about access to banking services, but about strengthening agency, resilience, and decision-making power.
“By enhancing financial inclusion and asset building, we are giving women the confidence and resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges and secure their futures,” he said.
Through the She Counts programme, Centenary Bank and its partners will deliver structured financial literacy sessions, expert-led investment clinics, peer-learning forums, and customised advisory support.
Participants will receive training in key wealth-building areas including savings and investment products, pensions, insurance, capital markets, collective investment schemes, and entrepreneurship financing.
The programme will also introduce women to more advanced financial instruments such as Treasury Bonds, Unit Trusts, and international investment opportunities, helping demystify complex financial systems and broaden participation in formal investment spaces.
Centenary Bank highlighted its longstanding track record in women’s economic empowerment through products such as the Cente SupaWoman Account and SupaWoman GROW Loans.
Through the GROW Project alone, the bank has empowered more than 52,000 women through financial literacy training and disbursed 1,858 loans worth approximately UGX 36.1 billion to women-led micro and small enterprises.
“Our commitment is to remain at the forefront of designing financial solutions that recognise the unique journeys of women,” Kasi said.
“We will continue leveraging our digital platforms and nationwide branch network to ensure no woman is left behind in the transition from earning to investing.”
UNDP Resident Representative in Uganda Nwanne Vwede-Obahor described the She Counts Women’s Fair as a deliberate intervention to dismantle barriers that have historically excluded women from formal financial systems.
“We want to demystify investment by speaking in plain, practical, and actionable language,” she said.
“Many women are excluded not because they lack ability, but because financial systems have often not been designed with accessibility in mind.”
She added that the partnership represents a broader commitment to challenging harmful stereotypes around women’s financial capability through empowerment, information-sharing, and solidarity.
As Uganda’s economy evolves, the She Counts initiative is positioning women not merely as participants in economic growth, but as architects of the country’s financial future.