Absa Bank Uganda has launched a three-month campaign offering Shs66 million in cash prizes to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt digital payments and increase their use of Business Debit Cards.
The campaign, running from October 15, 2026, to January 15, 2027, will award one customer Shs22 million each month for three consecutive months.
According to the bank, existing and prospective business customers can qualify for the monthly draws by opening an active Absa Business Account and signing up for a Business Debit Card, or by spending at least Shs500,000 monthly using the card at point-of-sale (POS) terminals or online.
Each qualifying activity earns a customer one entry into the monthly draw, subject to the campaign’s terms and conditions.
Speaking at the launch, Moses Rutahigwa, Absa Bank Uganda’s Personal, Private and Business Banking Director, said the initiative was part of the bank’s efforts to help businesses adopt simpler, safer and more efficient payment methods.
“Uganda’s businesses are operating in an increasingly digital economy, and that shift also needs to extend to how businesses manage their everyday expenditure,” Rutahigwa said.
He said the campaign was intended to accelerate the adoption of digital payments by encouraging SMEs to use Business Debit Cards for their routine business transactions.
The initiative comes as small and medium-sized enterprises remain a significant part of Uganda’s economy.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda has more than 1.8 million micro, small and medium enterprises operating in the informal sector alone. The enterprises are estimated to contribute 54.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and account for 92 per cent of employment.
Uganda’s payments sector is also experiencing a shift towards digital transactions. Bank of Uganda data cited by Absa indicates that electronic-money transaction volumes increased by 17.3 per cent in the year to December 2025, while transaction values grew by 28 per cent.
Absa said the value of transactions made using its Business Debit Cards had increased by 18 per cent over the past 12 months.
David Luyima, the bank’s Head of Cards and Payments, said Business Debit Cards could help SMEs manage daily expenses while maintaining better records of their transactions.
“SMEs make payments every day, from purchasing stock and meeting operational expenses to paying for services and making online purchases. A Business Debit Card gives them a secure and convenient way to make many of these payments directly from their business account, while creating a transaction record that makes it easier to keep track of expenditure,” Luyima said.
He added that the monthly Shs22 million prize would provide an additional incentive for businesses to use the cards more frequently.
The bank said each monthly winner would receive the cash prize directly into their active Absa Business Account.
The campaign is open to existing and prospective business customers who meet the eligibility criteria and comply with the applicable terms and conditions.
