A bold step toward inclusive growth and greener banking! Housing Finance Bank has unveiled its newest branch in Soroti, alongside a powerful gesture of sustainability—distributing 1,500 tree seedlings to promote environmental conservation. But here’s where it gets interesting: this expansion isn’t just about growing a financial network—it’s about redefining what responsible banking looks like in Uganda today.
Just a week after launching a branch in Nansana, one of Kampala’s fastest-growing commercial areas, the bank continues to show its deep-rooted commitment to empowering communities. The new Soroti branch, strategically located at Plot 67 Gweri Road on Soroti Main Street, aims to bring convenient, customer-focused banking to the heart of the Teso subregion. For residents, farmers, traders, and small enterprises, this means reliable access to affordable financial solutions closer than ever before.
This expansion now strengthens the bank’s 20-branch network across the country—a clear testament to its mission of driving financial inclusion and fostering equitable economic growth. The Soroti branch will offer a wide range of services: from personal savings, current accounts, and mortgages to business loans, advisory services, and agricultural financing. Whether a farmer seeking support for value addition or a trader looking for working capital, customers can now find flexible, tailored options to fit their goals. And with secure digital platforms for mobile and online banking, transactions are only a tap away—anytime, anywhere.
At the grand opening, Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo commended the initiative, calling it “an economic rebalancing tool” that narrows financial exclusion and energizes regional development. She reaffirmed the government’s backing for private-sector growth through programs such as the Small Business Recovery Fund—a facility created to help firms bounce back from the COVID-19 downturn. Importantly, Housing Finance Bank is one of the official partner institutions for this fund, offering small and medium-sized businesses access to low-interest financing designed to stimulate rebuilding and expansion. Could this collaboration mark a turning point for rural entrepreneurship in Uganda?
Representing the Bank of Uganda, Director of Commercial Banking Hannington Wasswa echoed this optimism. He highlighted the central bank’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s economic backbone through targeted interventions and praised Housing Finance Bank’s prudent, community-focused growth. He emphasized that while digital tools are reshaping banking, physical branches remain essential—especially for farmers, SMEs, and households that depend on face-to-face financial guidance. With Soroti evolving into a key agro-industrial hub, he asserted, the new branch will catalyze both economic activity and social prosperity across the region.
Housing Finance Bank’s Managing Director, Michael K. Mugabi, captured the moment powerfully: “The opening of our Soroti branch represents our promise to progress. We want to empower individuals, fuel enterprise growth, and serve as a source of transformation within communities.” His remarks painted a picture of a bank that sees itself not just as a financial institution, but as a development partner committed to inclusion, opportunity, and long-term resilience.
City leaders—including Soroti’s Resident City Commissioner John Michael Okurut and Mayor Joshua Edogu—joined district representatives from Kumi and Serere to celebrate the occasion, underscoring the branch’s regional importance.
In alignment with its Tiny Forest Initiative, the bank’s distribution of 1,500 tree seedlings stood as a reminder that economic development should harmonize with sustainability. This eco-focused campaign underlines Housing Finance Bank’s belief that real progress goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility—a vision that blends financial innovation with planetary care.
With the Soroti launch and sustainability efforts combined, the bank continues to advance a clear agenda: empowering people, strengthening local economies, and protecting the environment for future generations. As Uganda looks toward a more inclusive, greener financial future, one question remains open for debate—can profit and purpose truly coexist in today’s banking world? What do you think? Should every bank pair growth with environmental action?
