By Felix Oketcho
Stanbic National Schools Championship has won two accolades at the fifth edition of the Uganda Marketing and Excellence Awards (UMEAS), taking home the Best Not-for-Profit/Social Good Campaign and the Best Use of Sustainability awards.
The awards were presented during a high-profile gala organised by Evolve Africa at the Kampala Serena Hotel, bringing together leading brands, agencies, and marketing professionals from across the country.
Over the years, the initiative has become a cornerstone of efforts to embed entrepreneurship, creativity and problem-solving within Uganda’s education system, targeting students in secondary and vocational institutions.
This year’s UMEAS ceremony celebrated outstanding marketing success under the theme “Promoting sustainable marketing excellence”.
Organisers said the focus was on recognising campaigns that not only delivered strong results but also demonstrated responsible use of resources and sustainable return on investment.
Receiving the awards on behalf of the bank, Diana Kahunde, the acting Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank Uganda, expressed gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to innovation and social impact.
“As Stanbic Bank Uganda, we bask in the glory of this well-deserved award. The institution remains steadfast in living its purpose, ‘Uganda is our home, we drive her growth’, and we are committed to continuing to raise the bar for exceptional campaigns and innovations in the financial sector,” Kahunde said.
In his opening remarks, Martin Mukama, Head of Partnerships and Alliances at Evolve Africa, noted that the event marked both five years of celebrating strong marketing work and the launch of a new tradition through Uganda’s first State of Marketing Address.
Winners at UMEAS were selected by a six-member Marketing Council comprising experienced industry experts. Judging criteria included leadership, contribution to the marketing profession, experience and academic qualifications.
The council determined all nominations and held a 60 percent stake in the final decision for public vote categories, with the public contributing 40 percent for seven of the 13 award categories.
The Uganda Marketing and Excellence Awards were inspired by innovative marketing campaigns developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which demonstrated resilience and creativity under challenging conditions.
The Stanbic National Schools Championship forms part of the bank’s Corporate Social Investment programme and aims to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship among young people through structured mentorship and training.
