Centenary Bank has been unveiled as the official banking partner of the Uganda Premier League (UPL) for the 2026/2027 season, committing Shs 204 million towards league operations, media promotion, player awards and digital ticketing.
The partnership, announced at the bank’s headquarters at Mapeera House in Kampala, is expected to support the league’s administration, increase the visibility of domestic football and improve the experience of fans attending matches.
Under the agreement, Centenary Bank will provide Shs 100 million in cash to support league operations, administration and programmes, alongside Shs 100 million worth of media promotion. A further Shs 4 million has been allocated as prize money for outstanding players at the end of the season.
The bank’s digital payments platform, GonzaPay, will also become the league’s official ticketing partner, enabling fans to purchase match tickets electronically while helping organisers improve attendance monitoring and financial reconciliation.
Speaking at the announcement, Centenary Bank Managing Director Godfrey Byekwaso said the partnership reflected the bank’s nationwide presence and the role football plays in bringing Ugandans together.
“Centenary Bank is the biggest local bank serving over 3.4 million customers, 82 branches, over 9,000 agents and 217 ATMs. We are serving everywhere in Uganda and football connects Ugandans. So, with that infrastructure, we needed to support an institution that supports and unites the same Ugandans that we serve. We are therefore glad to partner with the Uganda Premier League and support the continued development of the game,” Byekwaso said.
He said the bank’s involvement in football was also linked to its broader commitment to youth development, noting that young people account for 38 per cent of its customer base.
Byekwaso said the bank offers financial products targeting young people, including the CenteVolution account, youth loans and higher education loans. It also supports financial literacy programmes, skills development and internship opportunities.
He added that the bank allocates 1.5 per cent of its previous year’s profits to corporate social responsibility initiatives under its Environmental, Social and Governance agenda, supporting areas including health, education, the Social Mission of the Church and environmental stewardship.
Centenary Bank’s partnership with the UPL builds on its existing involvement in sports, including support for the Buganda Kingdom’s Masaza Cup and participation in corporate competitions such as the Annual Banker’s Sports Gala, the Corporate Sports Network League and the Rotary 5-aside sports tournament.
Uganda Premier League Board Chairman Dr Arinaitwe Rugyendo described the agreement as a significant milestone, saying Centenary Bank was the first indigenous bank to partner with the competition in its nearly six-decade history.
“In nearly six decades of our league’s history, no indigenous bank has ever partnered with the league. Today, Centenary Bank becomes the first. This is a landmark partnership that will shape the future of Ugandan football,” Rugyendo said.
He said the arrangement extended beyond conventional sponsorship by combining financial support with media promotion, player recognition and digital ticketing.
According to Rugyendo, the package is expected to strengthen league operations, raise the profile of domestic football and make matches more accessible to supporters.
He also pointed to growing support for the competition, following a recent Shs 5.5 billion contribution from the Government of Uganda. He called on clubs, fans and the media to support the partnership and help bring the league closer to Ugandans.
GonzaPay, powered by Centenary Technology Services, will be central to the league’s efforts to improve ticket sales and match-day administration.
The digital platform is intended to allow supporters to buy tickets more conveniently, reduce congestion associated with last-minute purchases and provide organisers with more reliable attendance data and transaction records.
Dr Grace Ssekakubo, Chief Executive Officer of Centenary Technology Services, said the partnership demonstrated how digital solutions could address operational challenges while improving the experience for both fans and organisers.
“Our focus is on developing innovations that solve real problems and inspire growth. Through Gonza Pay and its ticketing platform, fans will be able to purchase tickets more conveniently, while organisers benefit from real-time attendance information, reliable digital records and improved financial reconciliation. We look forward to continually improving the platform in response to user feedback and the evolving needs of the game,” Ssekakubo said.
The digital ticketing arrangement is expected to support more efficient match attendance management while strengthening transaction tracking and accountability.
The partnership comes as the Uganda Premier League seeks to improve its visibility, strengthen its commercial operations and deliver a more accessible and professionally managed competition.
For Centenary Bank, the agreement provides another avenue to connect with communities through sport while advancing its wider commitment to youth development and national growth. For the league, the partnership brings financial, promotional and technological support that could help improve the organisation and commercial appeal of domestic football.
