Bankers’ Sports Gala returns with golf, swimming, and tug-of-war on the cards

Banks and financial firms kicked off their annual sports gala with a road race on Thursday evening, drawing over 300 participants through the streets of Muyenga hills.

The Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, commended the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) and the Uganda Bankers Association (UBA) for sustaining the tradition of the yearly sports event.

He noted that the gathering not only fosters competition but also promotes good health, teamwork, camaraderie, and professional conduct among sector players.

The governor's message was delivered in a speech read by Oscar Kiiza, the bank's Director of People, Culture, and Adaptation, at the launch of the 2026 annual bankers and financial institutions sports gala, held at the UIBFS offices in Muyenga.

"Sports teach us about preparation, discipline, consistency, resilience, respect, and honesty. Success happens when people combine their strengths, understand their roles, and work together to achieve a shared objective," the statement read.

Under the theme "Together, Towards Greatness," the governor further noted that despite differences in size, ownership, purpose, and operations, all financial institutions are united by a shared responsibility: to build a financial system that is secure, stable, inclusive, innovative, and trustworthy, thereby supporting Uganda's social and economic progress.

The event kicked off with a 5km and 7km road run, attracting more than 300 participants from various banks and financial institutions. The launch also included fitness drills as part of a 30-day fitness challenge, during which employees will engage in daily supervised workouts, earning points for their respective organisations.

Chief executive officers are scheduled to compete in a one-day golf tournament on September 5 at the Uganda Golf Club in Kitante.

The main competitions will begin on September 6 with indoor games at the Lugogo Indoor Arena, featuring chess, pool, ludo, darts, badminton, and table tennis. A swimming contest will follow on September 13.

Institutions will then converge at Kyambogo University grounds on September 20 for outdoor games, including football, netball, basketball, and tug-of-war. The gala will culminate with an awards ceremony on November 20.

The games are organized jointly by UIBFS and UBA.

UIBFS Director Goretti Masadde thanked the 28 participating institutions, including newcomers Wazalendo, the SACCO for UPDF soldiers.

She emphasized that the games are essential for the banking workforce, which spends long hours seated and needs physical activity for well-being. She also noted that the event provides a platform for talented sportsmen transitioning from school to the workplace, helping them maintain their skills.

"The games also create job opportunities, not only for fresh graduates but also for coaches in various sports disciplines," Masadde said at the launch.

However, she expressed concern that due to economic challenges, many banks have suspended their running clubs, which were once a force in national sports leagues. She remained optimistic that the situation would improve in the future.

"We used to have strong bank-sponsored clubs that were competitive in national leagues, but that is no longer the case. I hope the banks recover and reinvest in this venture. I also thank the banks that have continued to sponsor various sports as a way of giving back to the public," she added.

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) emerged as the overall winner last year, followed by Bank of Uganda (champions in 2024) and Equity Bank in third place.