Opportunity Bank Uganda celebrated a historic milestone on Friday, marking 30 years of service with a commemorative dinner that reflected its journey from a small microcredit initiative into one of the country’s most trusted financial institutions.
Founded in 1995, the bank has grown into a fully licensed Tier II Credit Institution, serving more than 520,000 customers nationwide. Over the decades, it has built a reputation for offering inclusive financial services that reach individuals, families, and businesses often excluded from mainstream banking, while positioning financial inclusion as a catalyst for social and economic transformation.
The 30th anniversary dinner, hosted at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, drew an esteemed group of guests, including Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Atul Tandon, CEO of Opportunity International U.S, Dan Murray, CEO of Opportunity International Canada, Anke Luckja, CEO of Opportunity International Germany, Mary Oakes, CEO of Opportunity International UK and Abi Nana François, CEO of Opportunity Microfinance Investments Ltd.
They were joined by the Chairperson of the Bank’s Board of Directors, Jacqueline Kobusingye Opondo, alongside development partners, clients, staff, and board members who have shaped the bank’s journey.
From its beginnings at Namirembe Branch, now City Branch, Opportunity Bank has expanded to 25 branches across Uganda including its newest office in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Kamwenge District. Serving more than 110,000 refugees, the Rwamwanja branch is the bank’s second in a refugee-hosting area, following the Nakivale branch, and offers specialized credit, digital banking, and financial literacy programs to both refugees and host communities.
Chief Executive Officer Owen Amanya described the celebration as more than an anniversary. “We are not just commemorating 30 years of banking but 30 years of changing stories. From refugees rebuilding their lives to women leading businesses, from rural schools to persons with disabilities—we exist for people who have been told ‘no’ too many times. We are proud to be their ‘yes’,” he said.
The bank’s impact was highlighted by Evans Senabulya, founder of Ridgeway Schools, who credited Opportunity Bank for supporting him when no other financial institution would. “They believed in our dream before anyone else did. Today, we have four Ridgeway Schools, thousands of students, and strong infrastructure. Their support was more than financial, it was the reason we are here today,” he said.
With more than 520 agent bankers, a growing digital platform, and a loan portfolio exceeding UGX 165 billion, Opportunity Bank continues to drive sustainable livelihoods and enterprise growth. Its outreach has touched over 21,000 smallholder farmers, 40,000 persons with disabilities, 1,510 schools, and 19,000 refugees.
Looking ahead, Amanya pledged that Opportunity Bank would remain committed to its founding vision. “Our story is one of people, not profits. As we look to the future, we remain a force for good in Uganda’s financial sector, offering not just services but partnership, respect, and hope,” he said.