Stanbic Uganda has released its half-year financial results for 2025, revealing a robust performance that not only underscores its market leadership but also its direct role in driving Uganda’s economic growth and empowering key demographics.
The bank’s strong commercial success is a tangible demonstration of how a leading financial institution can align its profitability with the government’s Women, Youth, and Farmers (WYF) agenda and broader national development goals.
“The Group’s performance is a clear testament to the resilience of our diversified business model and prudent financial management,” Ronald Makata, Chief Financial and Value Management Officer for Stanbic Bank, said. “Our 27 per cent Return on Equity and improved non-interest revenue streams position us well to meet the ambitious targets set for 2025 while continuing to deliver value to shareholders and stakeholders alike,” he added.
Record Profits Fuel National Development
Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited (SUHL) reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Shs278 billion for the first half of 2025, an impressive 18% increase from the same period last year.
This commercial success translated directly into a massive contribution to the national treasury, whereby Stanbic paid Shs273 billion in taxes, a significant 37% increase that provides critical funding for national infrastructure, social services, and the country’s growth agenda.
This dual-purpose model of achieving business success while contributing to national development was highlighted by the SUHL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Francis Karuhanga, who stated, “Our strong half-year performance reflects… our unwavering commitment to driving Uganda’s growth.”
Furthermore, Karuhanga revealed that Stanbic facilitated over Shs5.8 trillion in tax payments on behalf of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), solidifying its position as a key partner in mobilising domestic resources for national development priorities.
Strategic Focus on Empowering Uganda’s Economy
Stanbic’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s entrepreneurs, particularly youth and women-led enterprises, is a cornerstone of its strategy.
Karuhanga noted that the bank injected Shs288 billion of new capital into local businesses during the first half of the year, expanding its total SME loan book to Shs968 billion.
This strategic focus, according to him, is essential for implementing the government’s WYF agenda. By providing the much-needed capital, Stanbic is directly empowering these key demographics, enabling them to start, grow, and scale their businesses.
The bank’s Chief Executive, Kenneth Mumba Kalifungwa, noted that this performance was driven by significant growth across all core business units, including a 17% increase in lending and a 52% rise in deposits within Corporate and Investment Banking.
“Our strategic focus on innovation, customer-centric solutions, and disciplined risk management enabled us to grow lending and deposits significantly during the period,” Kalifungwa said, adding, “Our strong performance in the first half of 2025 was driven by significant growth across our core business units. Corporate and Investment Banking delivered a 17 per cent increase in lending and a 52 per cent rise in deposits, while our Personal and Private Banking and Business and Commercial Banking units also posted robust growth in both lending and deposits.”
He noted that this balanced growth across diverse segments demonstrates the bank’s resilience and its ability to meet the diverse financial needs of Uganda’s economy, from large corporations to small-scale entrepreneurs.
Efficiency and Future Outlook
Stanbic’s financial discipline, with a cost-to-income ratio below 50% and credit losses tightly managed at 0.2%, has positioned it for continued success.
As a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest lender, Stanbic Uganda is set to leverage its scale, innovation, and deep client relationships to maintain market leadership.
The bank’s performance is not just a win for its shareholders but a clear testament to its role in driving inclusive economic growth and supporting Uganda’s journey towards sustained prosperity, which is its core objective.