Mapeera House was conceived in 1990s

Archbishop kiwanuka was a champion of the poor who set up a Savings and Credit scheme

By Samuel Sanya

It was Archbishop Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka (1899—1966), the first African Bishop who first had a vision of establishing a Catholic founded financial institution. He was very much concerned with the poor state of the majority of the people he was leading.

Because of his concern about poverty, Archbishop Kiwanuka assisted the people of Masaka to set up a Savings and Credit society known as Bwavumpologoma.According to Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the name was coined from a popular Luganda proverb Obwavu Mpologoma, bwoterwanako ekulya, translated to mean that poverty is like confronting a fierce lion that can devour you if you don’t fight and kill it.

Archbishop Kiwanuka hoped that poverty would be eradicated, the standards of living would be improved and individuals would be organised into societies and be able to acquire financial assistance and advice that will enable them improve their wellbeing.

However due to lack of professionals and mismanagement of funds, Bwavumpologoma collapsed only after 20 years. By the time Archbishop Kiwanuka died on February 22, 1966, a Catholic founded institution had not been established. However, there were a number of people who worked with Archbishop Kiwanuka that shared the same vision.

These included Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga, Mgsr.Emmanuel Kibirige, Mr.Joseph Mubiru the first Governor Bank of Uganda, Prof. Kyalwazi, Rev.Fr.Kiggundu and Mr.Lawrence Sebalu. May their Souls rest in eternal peace. There was also another group led by the late Francis Pulle, which was eager to set up a financial institution.

In the year 1983, Centenary Bank was registered by the Uganda National Apostolate as a credit trust. The original subscribers were Advocate Mr.Hugh Francis Pulle, Mr.John Ogutu, Mr. Emanuel Mpande, Mr.Paul Kateregga, Mr.Vincent Kirabo Kyamaria. It began its operations in the year 1985 with the main objective of serving the rural poor and contributing to the overall economic development of the country.In the year 1993 Centenary Bank was registered as a full service bank.

Our Mission is to provide appropriate financial services especially through microfinance services to all people in Uganda, particularly in rural areas in a sustainable manner and in accordance with the law. Our strategy is to serve the economically disadvantaged people in Uganda especially in rural areas and to contribute to the overall economic development of the country.

This has meant that the Bank, although licensed as a full service Commercial Bank, has always focused on the provision of microfinance. This has been and will remain the focus of Centenary Bank. However, to reduce business risks, the Bank had diversified her activities to include lending to small and medium enterprises and large corporations to reach the middle and higher-end markets in order to provide services that are complementary to its target market and customers.

The main objective of the Bank is to promote and enhance development through loans to rural farmers, processors of agricultural produce, small manufacturing entrepreneurs, small traders and importers and exporters.

The bank does this through loan products and services including agricultural loans, investment loans and working capital loans. The Bank also endeavours to participate in Governments poverty alleviation programme and help improve the living conditions of the rural poor through loan products such as Home improvement loans and Salary loans, as well as through various savings. The biggest challenge the bank has been facing is space.

Lack of space may at times lead to inefficiency and indeed management is happy to report that we have overcome this challenge by constructing Mapeera House. The idea of Mapeera House was initiated in the 1990s by the Mapeera Foundation, a body belonging to Kampala Archdiocese to construct Mapeeera House on Kampala Road just opposite Bank of Uganda and the Post Office.

This plot belonged to the Kampala Archdiocese. This however was not possible due to complications in the legal framework between Centenary Bank and the Kampala Archdiocese. During the late 1990s Kampala Archdiocese sold its plot on Kampala Road and bought shares in the Bank. At the same time, Centenary Bank acquired its own plots between Kampala Road and Burton Street.

Apart from creating space, Centenary wanted to have its own headquarters and enhance the brand of the Bank. The bank will continue to serve its rural customers more efficiently and strive to reinforce its number one position in rural banking. Mapeera House will definitely assist in fulfilling its vision to be the best provider of financial services.