The Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS), in partnership with the Uganda Bankers Association (UBA), is hosting the 2025 Annual Bankers’ Sports Gala under the theme “Beyond the Finish Line.”
The sports activities commenced with a 30-day fitness challenge on 5th September 2025 at the UBA offices. This challenge involved participants walking 5,000 steps daily for 30 days to earn a medal and points for their bank.
This year, a total of 1,885 participants from 29 member banks took part in the fitness challenge. The challenge officially concluded on Sunday, 5th October 2025, with 734 participants successfully completing it.
Following the fitness challenge, the next event was the CEO Golf Challenge, held at the Uganda Golf Club on 25th September. The winning title was awarded to Bank of Uganda, which scored a total of 138 points.
Equity Bank came in a close second with 134 points, while NCBA Bank secured third place with 120 points. The overall winner in the women’s category was Patience Musiime of Namulonge Golf Club from Bank of Uganda, who scored 34 points, while the men’s category winner was Mr. Samuel Bulenzi of Uganda Golf Club from Stanbic Bank, who scored 42 points.
The gala continued with the virtual and physical quiz and the swimming challenge, held on 27th September (virtual quiz) and 5th October (swimming) at Hotel Africana. During the virtual quiz, the following banks advanced to the quarterfinals: Bank of Baroda vs. Diamond Trust Bank, DFCU Bank vs. Equity Bank, Post Bank vs. Bank of Uganda, and GT Bank vs. Finance Trust Bank. After tackling a range of questions—from the longest river in the world to the first rocket to land on the moon and the first superhero—DFCU’s Royal Blues emerged victorious, with Finance Trust Bank taking second place and Bank of Uganda securing third.
The swimming challenge featured three races: the men’s and women’s individual races and the mixed relay. Bankers swam all three races to the finish line, with the fastest teams earning the trophy. This year, DFCU’s Royal Blues won the competition, followed by Ecobank in second place and Bank of Uganda in third.
The games then moved to indoor activities, which were held on 19th October at Lugogo Sports Arena. The indoor games included table tennis, badminton, darts, pool table, chess, netball, and volleyball. All 29 institutions participated to earn points for their respective banks.
The top three performers in each game were as follows: in table tennis, Finance Trust Bank took first place, followed by Bank of Baroda and Centenary Bank.
In badminton, Bank of Uganda won first place, followed by Centenary Bank and Bank of Baroda. In darts, Bank of Uganda secured first place, Housing Finance Bank came second, and Bank of Africa was third.
In the pool table competition, Diamond Trust Bank emerged as the winner, ABSA Bank came second, and Housing Finance Bank came third.
In chess, Bank of Uganda took first place, ABSA Bank was second, and KCB came third. In netball, Diamond Trust Bank won, Pride Bank was second, and Centenary Bank came third. In volleyball, Diamond Trust Bank again took first place, followed by Equity Bank in second and NCBA in third.
Finally on 19th October 2025, the bankers came together for the final showdown at Kyambogo University for the last leg of the 2025 Annual Bankers’ Sports Gala—the outdoor games.
These included basketball, tug-of-war, football, sprints and relay races, sack races, the CEO walk race, and bottle balancing. The Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Professor Nuwagaba Augustus, graced the occasion and remarked on the importance of such games, noting that they serve as a reminder for bankers to look after their health while serving the nation. He thanked UIBFS and the Uganda Bankers’ Association for organizing the sports gala annually.
The Board Chair, Michael K. Mugabi, also addressed the attendees, encouraging bankers to enjoy themselves and embrace the spirit of the day.
He emphasized that, true to the year’s theme “Beyond the Finish Line,” bankers should not stop exercising after the gala but should maintain their physical fitness to better serve the industry.
Masadde Goretti, the CEO of UIBFS, expressed her gratitude to the 29 banking institutions that participated in this year’s gala. She also thanked the Beyond Sports Organisation for executing a successful and impactful event, as well as the Uganda Bankers’ Association for their continued support. She encouraged bankers to remain committed to intentional physical wellness, as reflected in the year’s theme.
The results from the outdoor games were as follows: in basketball, I&M Bank claimed first place, followed by Centenary Bank and Stanbic Bank. In tug-of-war, Centenary Bank emerged as the winner, Equity Bank came second, and FINCA Bank secured third. In football, Housing Finance Bank took the top position, with Diamond Trust Bank in second and Post Bank in third.
The overall winners of the 2025 Annual Bankers’ Sports Gala are as follows: Diamond Trust Bank in first place with 855 points, Bank of Uganda in second place with 795 points, and Equity Bank in third with 705 points.
The participating institutions included Bank of Uganda, ABC Capital Bank, ABSA Bank, Bank of Baroda, Cairo Bank, Centenary Bank, Citi Bank, Diamond Trust Bank, DFCU Bank, Equity Bank, Ecobank, Exim Bank, Finance Trust Bank, Financial Intelligence Authority, FINCA MDI, GT Bank, Housing Finance Bank, I&M Bank, KCB Bank, NCBA, PostBank, Tropical Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic Bank, United Bank for Africa, Uganda Development Bank, and UGAFODE MDI.
