As Stanbic Bank Uganda approaches 35 years of operations, the lender has unveiled a bold new brand campaign urging Ugandans to keep pushing toward progress.
The campaign, titled “Keep Growing,” was launched today and will run for 18 months, celebrating Uganda not for what has been achieved but for what remains possible through resilience, ingenuity, and continuous innovation.
“Growth is never accidental; it is the consequence of courage, adaptation, and belief,” said Mumba Kalifungwa, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Uganda. “Ugandans embody this every day. Keep Growing is our commitment to stand with them—especially women, youth, and farmers—as we invest in a future shaped by inclusion, innovation, and positive impact.”
Although the Stanbic name became prominent in recent decades, the bank’s roots stretch back to 1906, when the National Bank of India began banking operations in East Africa. Over time, the institution evolved into Grindlays Bank, which played a foundational role in Uganda’s early commercial networks.
In 1991, Standard Bank Group entered Uganda by acquiring Grindlays’ regional assets, bringing with it the now-familiar ethos: Uganda is our home; we drive her growth.
A defining turning point came in 2002 when the Government of Uganda privatised Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB).
Standard Bank acquired a majority stake, instantly making Stanbic the country’s largest commercial lender. The acquisition transformed the bank’s mandate—shifting from serving Uganda to enabling the economic transformation of households, farmers, entrepreneurs, and industries.
Stanbic leaders say the new campaign is both a tribute to Uganda’s resilience and a call to continue striving for transformative national growth.
Sam Mwogeza, Executive Director and Head of Personal and Private Banking, said the initiative reflects Uganda’s spirit of persistence.
“Ugandans have never stopped pushing forward—through cycles, shocks, and reinvention. Keep Growing honours that spirit and reinforces our commitment to solutions that help families move closer to prosperity.”
Paul Muganwa, Executive Director and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking, linked the campaign to shifts in the country’s economic landscape.
“As Uganda becomes more sophisticated and regionally integrated, our role is to enable capital flows—from trade corridors to agro-industrial value chains and infrastructure. Keep Growing signals that readiness.”
From the business banking perspective, Tunde Thorpe, Head of Business and Commercial Banking, emphasised that small and medium enterprises remain central to Uganda’s economic growth.
“Our role is to fuel that momentum with affordable credit, advisory services, and partnerships that help businesses scale sustainably.”
Catherine Poran, Chief Executive of the Stanbic Business Incubator, added that empowering SMEs strengthens entire communities.
“When entrepreneurs grow, communities grow. By equipping SMEs with investment-ready skills, we unlock long-term value for Uganda’s economy.”
Acting Head of Brand & Marketing Diana Kahunde described the effort as more than a promotional exercise.
“Keep Growing is a movement. It makes our purpose visible in communities across the country and celebrates the innovation and resilience of Ugandans everywhere.”
The campaign will roll out through media platforms, community engagements, enterprise hubs, and digital channels. It will spotlight Ugandans who are redefining progress—on farms, in markets, in factories, in homes and across digital spaces.
“We want to hear—and help tell—the growth stories of Ugandans building something, changing something, daring something,” said Ken Agutamba, Country Manager for Corporate Communications. “If you have grown at any point along our journey together, this campaign is yours.”
More than a century after its earliest origins, and now operating across digital banking channels, capital markets, insurance, and enterprise development, Stanbic’s evolution mirrors that of Uganda: resilient, adaptive and still unfolding.
