In line with its mission to serve the underserved, Opportunity Bank Uganda opened its 25th branch in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Kamwenge District on August 14 as part of its 30-year celebration of empowering underserved communities through inclusive finance, digital innovation, and a steadfast commitment to dignity and opportunity for all.
Home to over 110,000 refugees, Rwamwanja becomes the second refugee-hosting location to benefit from tailored Opportunity Bank services—following the landmark Nakivale branch.
The Rwamwanja branch will offer specialized credit, digital banking, and financial literacy for both refugees and host communities, with a focus on agriculture, the region’s primary livelihood.
Over the years, Opportunity Bank has built a legacy of impact. It currently supports more than 19,000 refugees, 21,000 smallholder farmers, 40,000 persons with disabilities, and finances 1,510 schools—all while maintaining over Ugx 175 billion in savings and a loan portfolio of Ugx 165 billion.
Through its bancassurance partnerships with 10 leading insurance providers, the Bank helps secure brighter futures for families and small businesses with affordable, reliable insurance products.
Established in 1995 as a small microcredit initiative, the Bank has since evolved into a fully licensed Tier II Credit Institution, now serving over 520,000 customers across Uganda.
Over the past three decades, Opportunity Bank has built a reputation as a trusted financial partner—delivering accessible, customer-centric solutions to individuals, families, and businesses traditionally excluded from mainstream banking, while championing financial inclusion as a catalyst for long-term social and economic transformation.
Speaking at the 30th Anniversary Dinner held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, Mr Owen Amanya, CEO, Opportunity Bank Uganda said they are not just commemorating 30 years of bankingbut celebrating 30 years of changing stories.
“From refugees rebuilding their lives to women leading small businesses, from rural schools to persons with disabilities—we exist for the people who have been told ‘no’ too many times. We are proud to be their ‘yes’,” he remarked.
He added that the bank’s story is one of people, not profits and as they look to the future, Opportunity Bank remains committed to being a force for good in Uganda’s financial sector, offering not just services, but partnership, respect, and hope.
Opportunity Bank’s leadership in inclusive banking is also reflected in its pioneering work with refugees. In 2021, it became the first commercial bank to open a branch in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, and in 2025, it expanded to the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement—delivering dignified, accessible financial services to thousands of forcibly displaced people and host communities.
The commemoration dinner attracted attendance from an esteemed group of guests such as Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Mr Atul Tandon, CEO of Opportunity International U.S, Mr Dan Murray, President & CEO of Opportunity International Canada, Anke Luckja, CEO of Opportunity International Germany.
There was also Mrs. Mary Oakes, CEO of Opportunity International UK, Ms ABi Nana François, CEO of Opportunity Microfinance Investments Ltd. Hosting alongside these global leaders were Mrs. Jacqueline Kobusingye Opondo, Chairperson of the Bank’s Board of Directors.
They were joined by development partners, loyal clients, long-serving staff, and board members—each of whom has played an instrumental role in building the Bank’s enduring legacy of transformative impact.
From its very first location at Namirembe Branch—now known as City Branch—Opportunity Bank has expanded to a network of 25 branches across all four regions of Uganda. These branches are more than service points; they are centers of possibility, resilience, and renewal for the communities they serve.
Guided by a powerful mission and vision, the Bank exists to provide innovative, inclusive, and technology-led financial solutions that transform lives—particularly for smallholder farmers, refugees, women, youth, schools, and persons with disabilities.
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