Absa Bank Uganda has launched a three-month campaign offering Shs66 million in cash prizes to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embrace digital payments and increase their use of Business Debit Cards.
The campaign, which runs from October 15, 2026, to January 15, 2027, will reward one customer with Shs22 million each month for three months.
Existing and prospective business customers can qualify for the monthly draws by opening an active Absa Business Account and signing up for a Business Debit Card, or by spending at least Shs500,000 per month using the card at point-of-sale (POS) terminals or online.
Each qualifying activity earns a customer one entry into the monthly draw, subject to the campaign’s terms and conditions.
Speaking at the launch, Moses Rutahigwa, Absa Bank Uganda’s Personal, Private and Business Banking Director, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to helping SMEs adopt simpler, safer and more efficient ways of managing business payments.
“Uganda’s businesses are operating in an increasingly digital economy, and that shift also needs to extend to how businesses manage their everyday expenditure,” Rutahigwa said.
He added that the campaign was intended to accelerate the adoption of digital payments by giving SMEs an additional incentive to use Business Debit Cards for routine transactions.
The initiative comes as SMEs continue to play a significant role in Uganda’s economy. According to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda has more than 1.8 million micro, small and medium enterprises in the informal sector alone. MSMEs are estimated to contribute 54.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and account for 92 per cent of employment.
Uganda’s payments landscape is also shifting towards digital channels. Bank of Uganda data shows that electronic-money transaction volumes grew by 17.3 per cent in the year to December 2025, while transaction values increased by 28 per cent, reflecting continued adoption of electronic payment methods.
At Absa, the value of transactions made using Business Debit Cards has grown by 18 per cent over the past 12 months, according to the bank.
David Luyima, Absa Bank Uganda’s Head of Cards and Payments, said greater card usage could help SMEs manage routine expenditure more conveniently while improving visibility over their transactions.
“SMEs make payments every day, from purchasing stock and meeting operational expenses to paying for services and making online purchases. A Business Debit Card gives them a secure and convenient way to make many of these payments directly from their business account, while creating a transaction record that makes it easier to keep track of expenditure,” Luyima said.
He said the Shs22 million monthly prize would provide an additional incentive for businesses to make greater use of the payment tool.
Each monthly winner will receive the cash prize directly into their active Absa Business Account.
The bank said the campaign is open to existing and prospective business customers who meet the eligibility requirements and comply with the applicable terms and conditions.