dfcu Bank has launched its inaugural Report to Society 2025, documenting its contribution to Uganda’s economic and social development through business financing, women’s entrepreneurship, community healthcare and environmental initiatives.
The report, unveiled at Serena Hotel in Kigo, highlights the bank’s efforts to expand financial inclusion, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), support livelihoods and promote sustainable development beyond conventional banking services.
According to the report, dfcu Bank financed 6,527 SMEs in 2025, while its Women in Business programme has supported more than 80,000 women entrepreneurs.
The bank also reported that its community health interventions reached more than 25,000 Ugandans, while its environmental initiatives involved planting or distributing 62,000 trees in 2025.
Speaking at the launch, dfcu Bank Board Chairperson Dr Winifred Mary Tarinyeba Kiryabwire said the report was intended to strengthen accountability by showing how the institution contributes to society beyond its financial performance.
“For more than six decades, dfcu has been part of Uganda’s economic transformation, supporting businesses, expanding financial inclusion and creating opportunities for individuals and communities,” she said.
She added that the publication would enable stakeholders to assess the bank’s contribution while encouraging it to improve its impact.
dfcu Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Charles M. Mudiwa said the report demonstrated the institution’s responsibility to account for the resources and trust entrusted to it by customers, investors and the public.
“Our customers and stakeholders entrust us with their money, their businesses and their confidence. We therefore have a responsibility to account for how we use those resources and what they help us achieve,” Mudiwa said.
He noted that the report brought together impact stories and figures showing how the bank’s activities had supported enterprises, livelihoods and communities across Uganda.
The publication also highlights dfcu’s partnership with Rotary Uganda, through which the bank committed UGX 1 billion over three years to expand access to preventive healthcare through community medical camps.
The initiative provides free outpatient consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, dental and eye care, health education and referrals. The medical camps also screen for conditions including hypertension, diabetes, HIV, cancer and sickle cell disease.
Recent outreaches have been held in Jinja, Mbuya, Mutungo, Kasenyi Landing Site and Kamwokya.
Meanwhile, dfcu Foundation reported facilitating UGX 38.08 billion in financing to enterprises, helping businesses access formal financial services and invest in growth.
The foundation, which transitioned from the dfcu Business Development Centre in 2024, has supported more than 4,000 enterprises and reached over 80,000 beneficiaries since 2018, according to its chairperson, Dr James Ssemwanga.
He said many Ugandan businesses required more than capital to grow, including business development support, market access, skills and partnerships.
“In 2025, we facilitated approximately UGX 38 billion in credit, helping enterprises access formal financial services and invest in growth,” Ssemwanga said.
He added that the foundation aims to support more than 100,000 additional beneficiaries between 2025 and 2030 by strengthening enterprises, connecting value chains and developing productive market ecosystems.
dfcu Limited Board Chairman Jimmy D. Mugerwa said the report demonstrated the group’s commitment to combining financial performance with responsible corporate citizenship.
He argued that the institution’s long-term success should also be measured by the opportunities it creates, the resilience of communities it serves and its contribution to Uganda’s economic future.
The report also places dfcu’s initiatives within the broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda, highlighting the importance of transparent reporting, responsible decision-making and measuring the long-term outcomes of corporate investments.
Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at dfcu Bank, Helena Mayanja, said the publication brought together the institution’s work in women’s entrepreneurship, SME financing, community health, enterprise development and environmental stewardship.
She said the report was intended to make the bank’s contribution more accessible to the public while strengthening its commitment to credible measurement and continuous improvement.
Established in 1964 as a development finance institution, dfcu has supported sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, education, health, tourism, construction, transport and trade.
The inaugural Report to Society provides a consolidated account of the bank’s community and enterprise initiatives, as dfcu seeks to strengthen the link between financial services, inclusive economic participation and Uganda’s social and economic development.