Last Updated on: 2nd February 2023, 11:57 am
When one of the Uganda’s most celebrated poets Okot p’Bitek (7 June, 1963-19 July, 1982) wrote in his book, Song of Lawino that, “The pumpkin in the old homestead must not be uprooted.”
He did not know that the wise saying from Northern Uganda would inspire the top managers of Stanbic Bank Uganda.
For almost a decade, Stanbic Bank, alongside several others in Jinja had migrated from their traditionally known locations at Busoga Square that also served as the district headquarters to the busy Central Business District(CBD) along Scindia Road also known as Lady Alice Muloki Road.
Banks like Orient now I&M Bank Uganda, Centenary, United Bank of Africa, Equity Bank Uganda, DFCU, Absa Bank and Finance Trust Bank; Tropical Bank Uganda, Ecobank Uganda and KCB Uganda, among others, are all concentrated within the CBD.
The above move also prompted Stanbic Bank to follow suit by establishing an outlet along Lady Alice Muloki Road.
This was apparently the trending pattern at the time when many customers of different banks were assaulted and robbed by criminals at night after picking money through the ATMs.
Like they say in life at times, solving one problem causes another problem that must be critically looked into; the managers of Stanbic Bank once again faced several complaints from customers.
Top on the list was the small banking hall, lack of confidentiality and overcrowding which led to delay in service delivery to customers, some who are business oriented, others are civil servants.
This was the time top managers in Kampala together with their Jinja regional team sat down to reflecting on the stingy matter when one of them read out loudly the line from Bitek’s book, “The pumpkin in the old homestead must not be uprooted.”
They resolved to refurbish and redesign the former branch office which has now become once again the centre of envy and admiration by customers and many in Jinja City.
Located directly opposite the dilapidated colonial structure of the Jinja district headquarters, the branch office dubbed “Jinja Branch New Look” hosted a few dozen customers Wednesday, January 25, 2023 to officially re-enter the office.
The early morning ceremony saw one of Stanbic Bank’s customers identified as Dorothy Akongo cut the ribbon to symbolize the ceremonial re-opening of the magnificent branch office.
Speaking as chief guest, Isaac Morgan Mukasa who heads the Distribution Department was all praise for the top management team and staff for their innovation.
Mukasa who was flanked by the eastern regional manager James Damulira and the branch manager Bruno Agaba, implored the people in Jinja and Busoga to partner with Stanbic Bank which he describes as “the best bank in Uganda”.
He cited a number of products and packages that cater for all categories of people like commercial farmers, the business community, civil servants, youth and women at very friendly interest rates and terms.
Guests, together with smartly-dressed staff in their navy blue corporate attires who witnessed the ceremony were treated to a sumptuous and nutritious breakfast punctuated with traditional tunes and songs from a group called Nsete Cultural Group based in Mafubira Parish, Northern Division, Jinja City.