By Felix Oketcho
UGAFODE Microfinance Limited (MDI) emerged as one of the top performers at the 2025 Annual Bankers’ Awards held at Mestil Hotel taking home three major awards that recognized the institution’s commitment to service excellence, staff development, and customer-centered financial solutions.
The celebrated microfinance institution won include ,Best Customer Experience Award,Best Short Skills Program Award and Best Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Program Award
These recognitions place UGAFODE among Uganda’s leading financial service providers championing responsible finance, customer empowerment, and sector-wide capacity strengthening.
Speaking at the ceremony, UGAFODE’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Shafi Nambobi, who led the delegation of staff that included Florence Mutonerwa, Aden Mbazira, Robert Lule Magala, Christine Letasi, Jacques Musoda, Bridget Nakandi Mirembe, Stephen Kiyegga, Deborah Nabanjja, Ali Fahad Mustafa Zandya and Jemimah Nambafu, reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to building a service culture grounded in empathy, integrity, and innovation.
“These awards reflect our commitment to putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. They are a testament to the resilience and hard work of our staff, the trust of our customers, and the strategic leadership guiding our institution,” Mr. Nambobi said.
The Best Customer Experience Award recognizes UGAFODE’s strides in strengthening customer service processes, improving turnaround times, and ensuring clients receive consistent, high-quality support across branches nationwide.
The award for Short Skills Programs highlights UGAFODE’s effort in delivering targeted staff training, while the CPD Program Award celebrates its structured, year-round staff development framework that equips employees with practical skills to serve customers better and respond to evolving financial needs in local communities.
Sector leaders at the event commended UGAFODE for setting a strong example in professional development a critical pillar for responsible growth in the microfinance industry.
UGAFODE Board of Directors and shareholders have lauded management and staff for steering the institution towards excellence, while development partners praised UGAFODE’s role in advancing financial inclusion for low-income households, savings groups, Refugees and micro-entrepreneurs.
The institution extended appreciation to its partners, customers, and stakeholders whose continued support has enabled its transformation journey.
“Our customers remain the reason we exist. Their trust inspires us to innovate, train, and evolve. These achievements belong to them as much as they belong to us,” noted the CEO.
As UGAFODE celebrates this milestone, it remains focused on delivering accessible, inclusive, and customer-centered financial solutions while expanding its footprint across Uganda.
The Bankers’ Awards, hosted annually, recognize institutions that demonstrate excellence in innovation, customer experience, staff development, and leadership in the country’s financial sector.
UGAFODE MICROFINANCE LIMITED (MDI) is a deposit-taking financial institution that is regulated by the Bank of Uganda. It was started in 1994 as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the name The Uganda Agency for Development Limited (UGAFODE). The NGO aimed at providing affordable financial services to customers, who were mainly women provided with group credit.
In September 2010, UGAFODE Microfinance Limited was incorporated as a company limited by shares, and in September 2011, it transformed into an MDI (Micro-deposit taking institution) with new savings products to balance credit operations and expanded shareholding.
The NGO divested from microfinance activities but retained an ownership share. It transferred all its business, assets, and liabilities to UGAFODE Microfinance Limited. The institution was licensed as a Tier III MDI by The Central Bank of Uganda (BoU) in 2011.
UGAFODE operates in 21 branches and Five Sales and Customer Service Centres across the country.