By Maria Mariam Namala
Centenary Bank has announced a Shs100 million contribution toward road safety initiatives and the construction of an accident and trauma centre at Nkozi Hospital in Mawokota, Mpigi District. The pledge was made during the launch of the 2026 Kaliisoliiso Dinner Concert, held at the hospital as part of ongoing fundraising efforts organized by CBS FM in partnership with the Buganda Kingdom. The event supports the trauma centre and promotes responsible road use under the Labuka Road Safety Programme.
The donation comes amid a worsening national trend. The 2025 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report shows 26,044 road crashes in 2025, up from 25,107 in 2024, a 3.7 percent rise. Deaths climbed to 5,383 from 5,144, averaging about 15 fatalities daily on Uganda’s roads.
Beatrice Lugalambi, Centenary Bank’s General Manager for Corporate Communications and Marketing, who spoke on behalf of Managing Director Godfrey Byekwaso, emphasized the need for collaborative action across government, the private sector, cultural institutions and the public. “Every day, our customers travel on these roads to run shops, transport produce, commute to work, attend school and visit families. Their safety matters because they are the people we exist to serve,” she said. The bank pledged to support the completion of the trauma centre.
Nkozi Hospital, located along the Kampala–Masaka highway—a corridor with a high incidence of crashes—reports a surge in accident victims that strains its limited resources. The proposed trauma centre is intended to address this gap. Hospital director Dr Cresent Tumuhaise underscored the need for additional capacity at the facility during the launch.
Centenary Bank is not alone in backing the project. MTN Uganda also pledged Shs100 million at the event, with its Masaka branch becoming the first to donate via a newly launched mobile code, 1654*4#, enabling the public to contribute any amount toward the centre. Rotary in Uganda, represented by Dr Jane Kabugo, committed to equipping the hospital once construction is completed, along with promises of tables from various companies and Rotary clubs. The launch was presided over by Owek. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, the Second Deputy Katikkiro and Buganda Kingdom Treasurer, who highlighted the Kabaka’s commitment to bringing high-quality medical care closer to communities.
Centenary Bank’s involvement with the Nkozi project dates back to the first fundraising drive in 2016. The bank reports contributing more than Shs400 million through dinners, marathons, car washes and publicity campaigns. The latest contribution falls under a three-year memorandum of understanding signed with CBS FM in 2025, committing Shs280 million over three years; after an initial Shs80 million at the previous year’s dinner, the bank’s total under the partnership now stands at Shs180 million.
This year’s Kaliisoliiso Dinner Concert is scheduled for 11 September at Hotel Africana in Kampala. Individual tickets are priced at Shs300,000, with table options ranging from Shs3 million to Shs20 million.