Centenary Bank Boosts Mbale Heroes with UGX 5 Million Donation Ahead of 2024/25 Uganda Premier League Return. -

Centenary Bank, Uganda’s leading commercial microfinance institution, has contributed UGX 5 million to Mbale Heroes Football Club in a bid to bolster the team’s performance for the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League season.

This contribution was handed over by Martin Seguya, the Chief Manager of Personal Banking at Centenary Bank, during a corporate fundraising dinner held at Hotel Africana.

The donation is part of a larger effort to raise UGX 1.5 billion to support Mbale Heroes’ return to top-tier Ugandan football after an 18-year absence.

The club, formerly known as Gangama United, is well-known in Bugisu for breaking the dominance of central Ugandan teams by winning the Uganda Cup in 1976 and 1999.

Beatrice Lugalambi, the General Manager of Corporate Communications and Marketing at Centenary Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to supporting initiatives that foster youth talent through sports.

“As a bank, we are committed to partnering with initiatives that nurture youth talent through sports like football. We are passionate supporters of Ugandan football and have been instrumental in supporting local leagues and talent through tournaments such as the Buganda Kingdom’s Masaza Cup. This has allowed us to witness the growth of football in Uganda and the positive impact on young, talented footballers,” Lugalambi stated.

She further highlighted that Centenary Bank allocates 2% of its annual profits towards sustainability efforts, which is a crucial component of the bank’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.

This strategy includes initiatives in education, health, environmental stewardship, the social mission of the church, and community development.

The fundraising event raised over UGX 180 million in cash and pledges from various stakeholders and supporters to help fund the club’s activities for the upcoming season.

Mbale Heroes Club Patron, Hon. Nandala Mafabi, Member of Parliament for Budadiri East in Sironko, emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to ensure the club’s continued presence and relevance in Ugandan football.

“An 18-year absence from the top flight is not something we ever anticipated as Mbale Heroes fans. During this time, we’ve faced numerous setbacks in our attempts to return to the top. Now that we’re back, it’s crucial that we unite to keep this great club in the premier league,” Mafabi said.

“We are increasing our involvement and are committed to injecting funds into the team so that we can become champions once again,” he added.

Centenary Bank remains dedicated to supporting the development of local sports in Uganda, evidenced by its partnerships such as the Masaza Cup, to which it has contributed UGX 600 million over the past three years.

The bank also plays a significant role in supporting the Annual Rotary Cancer Run, held each year.