Stanbic Bank Uganda has donated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment worth Shs 30 million to Ikafe Police Training School in Yumbe District to strengthen digital skills training for police recruits and promote technology-driven policing.
The donation, made under the bank’s employee-led community initiatives during its Love Month activities, is intended to enhance the institution’s capacity to train recruits in digital systems, information management and the use of technology in law enforcement.
Damoni Kitabire, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Stanbic Bank Uganda, said digital capabilities were becoming increasingly important in modern policing, particularly in regions facing complex security challenges.
“Modern policing is increasingly driven by technology. Officers serving in this region require the digital skills and tools needed to respond effectively to today’s evolving security challenges,” Kitabire said.
He noted that the investment was particularly significant given Yumbe District’s strategic location along Uganda’s border with South Sudan, where effective security institutions play an important role in maintaining stability, facilitating trade and supporting economic activity.
According to Kitabire, the donation goes beyond providing computers and other ICT equipment, as it is also intended to strengthen the skills of officers responsible for protecting communities.
The equipment will support practical ICT training, equipping recruits with competencies needed to manage digital information, use modern systems and respond to emerging threats, including cybercrime and increasingly sophisticated cross-border criminal activities.
Kitabire also highlighted the digital infrastructure challenges faced by institutions in remote areas, noting that the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between training institutions in rural communities and those in urban centres.
“This contribution reflects our commitment to ensuring that young officers training in West Nile have access to the same opportunities and digital resources as their counterparts elsewhere in the country,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) James Okabo Okello, the commandant of Ikafe Police Training School, welcomed the donation, saying it would strengthen the institution’s capacity to prepare recruits for modern law enforcement.
Okello said the school had trained more than 1,000 young men and women and currently had more than 150 trainers.
He added that the institution had continued to develop its facilities to support police training and improve the welfare of recruits and staff.
The school also has a health centre staffed by medical personnel, a laboratory supported by National Medical Stores, about five clinical officers and an ambulance, according to Okello.
He described the institution as having significant potential for further development.
“With this kind of support, modern policing is going to become the standard of our operations because we now have the tools and capacity to make it possible,” Okello said.
He commended Stanbic Bank for investing in the digital capacity of the police force, noting that access to ICT equipment and relevant skills would help officers adopt modern approaches to policing.
The contribution was spearheaded by employees from Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Information Technology department, who mobilised funds to procure the equipment.
Rita Apell, the bank’s Chief Information Officer, said the initiative demonstrated the impact of employee-led efforts in supporting community development.
“This has been an employee-led initiative, and our IT team came together and contributed funds to procure the equipment. It has truly been about teamwork, and we are very excited about the contribution this initiative will make to the Ikafe community,” Apell said.
The donation forms part of Stanbic Bank Uganda’s broader Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which prioritises education and skills development.
The initiative also supports Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on quality education, and Sustainable Development Goal 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth. It further aligns with the government’s digital transformation agenda and efforts to improve public service delivery.
Kitabire said the long-term impact of the investment would be reflected in the number of police recruits who benefit from the equipment and the skills acquired through the training programme.
“ICT infrastructure is a long-term investment. Thousands of police recruits will benefit from these resources over time, making this contribution one that will continue creating value well into the future,” he said.
The donation comes as Stanbic Bank Uganda marks 35 years of serving the country as part of Standard Bank Group, using the anniversary period to highlight its contribution to communities and public institutions.
Kitabire said partnerships between the private sector and public institutions were essential to advancing national development.
“Uganda is our home, we drive her growth. National development is a shared responsibility, and partnerships such as this demonstrate what can be achieved when the private sector works alongside public institutions to strengthen communities and build a more secure and prosperous Uganda,” he said.
The bank said its continued investment in education, skills development and institutional capacity was part of its broader commitment to supporting Uganda’s economic and social development.
