Centenary Financial institution companions with Uganda Premier League for 2026/27 season

David GOMBE

Centenary Financial institution has partnered with the Uganda Premier League (UPL) in a dedication to change into the league’s official banking accomplice for the 2026/2027 season, with help for league operations, media promotion, participant awards and digital ticketing.

Centenary Financial institution is bringing on board a complete of UGX 204 million to help the partnership. This contains UGX 100 million in money help for league operations, administration and programmes, UGX 100 million in in-kind media promotion to extend the visibility of home soccer and UGX 4 million in prize cash for excellent gamers on the finish of the season. Centenary Financial institution’s digital funds platform, GonzaPay, will function the league’s official ticketing accomplice, enabling followers to buy match tickets digitally whereas supporting extra environment friendly ticketing and attendance administration.

The partnership was introduced at Centenary Financial institution’s Mapeera Home headquarters in Kampala, marking a major milestone for the league. It brings collectively two longstanding Ugandan establishments dedicated to serving communities and supporting nationwide growth.

Talking on the launch, Centenary Financial institution Managing Director, Godfrey Byekwaso, mentioned the partnership recognises the ability of soccer to unite communities, encourage younger folks and create alternatives.

‘’Centenary Financial institution is the largest native financial institution serving over 3.4 million clients, 82 branches, over 9,000 brokers and 217 ATMs. We’re serving all over the place in Uganda and soccer connects Ugandans. So, with that infrastructure, we wanted to help an establishment that helps and unites the identical Ugandans that we serve. We’re due to this fact glad to accomplice with the Uganda Premier League and help the continued growth of the sport,” he mentioned.

Byekwaso famous that the partnership aligns with the financial institution’s wider dedication to youth growth. Younger folks account for 38 per cent of Centenary Financial institution’s clients and the financial institution provides services designed to help their monetary and private growth, together with the CenteVolution account, youth loans and better training loans. Its non-financial initiatives embody monetary literacy programmes, abilities growth alternatives and internships.

He added that the financial institution’s duty extends past offering monetary companies to supporting communities via its Environmental, Social and Governance agenda, below which it units apart 1.5 per cent of its earlier yr’s earnings for company social duty initiatives in well being, Social Mission of the Church, training and environmental stewardship.

Centenary Financial institution’s help for the Uganda Premier League builds on its wider contribution to sports activities throughout the nation. The financial institution helps sports activities initiatives together with Buganda Kingdom’s Masaza Cup and in addition participates in sports activities tournaments such because the Annual Banker’s Sports activities Gala, the Company Sports activities Community League and the Rotary 5-aside sports activities match.

Dr. Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Board Chairman of the Uganda Premier League, described the partnership as a landmark growth within the league’s historical past, noting that Centenary Financial institution is the primary indigenous financial institution to accomplice with the competitors in its almost six-decade historical past.

“In almost six a long time of our league’s historical past, no indigenous financial institution has ever partnered with the league. At present, Centenary Financial institution turns into the primary. It is a landmark partnership that may form the way forward for Ugandan soccer,” he mentioned.

Dr. Rugyendo mentioned the partnership goes past standard sponsorship, with the monetary contribution, media promotion, participant awards and digital ticketing anticipated to help the league’s operations and visibility whereas enhancing the expertise for followers.

He additionally famous that the partnership comes amid rising confidence within the league, following a latest UGX 5.5 billion contribution from the Authorities of Uganda. He referred to as on golf equipment, supporters and the media to embrace the partnership and assist deliver home soccer nearer to Ugandans.

A central element of the collaboration is the mixing of digital ticketing via Gonza Pay, powered by Centenary Expertise Companies. The answer is meant to simplify ticket purchases, cut back last-minute stress at match venues and supply organisers with extra dependable attendance data and transaction data.

Dr. Grace Ssekakubo, Chief Government Officer of Centenary Expertise Companies, mentioned the partnership demonstrates how expertise can handle sensible challenges whereas enhancing experiences for soccer followers and organisers.

“Our focus is on creating improvements that remedy actual issues and encourage development. By way of Gonza Pay and its ticketing platform, followers will be capable of buy tickets extra conveniently, whereas organisers profit from real-time attendance data, dependable digital data and improved monetary reconciliation. We look ahead to frequently enhancing the platform in response to consumer suggestions and the evolving wants of the sport,” he mentioned.

The partnership reinforces Centenary Financial institution’s dedication to supporting initiatives that advance communities and create alternatives for Ugandans, whereas supporting the Uganda Premier League’s continued development and ambition to ship a extra seen, accessible and professionally managed competitors.