Equity Bank has highlighted the success of one of its clients, Winfred Phiona Adong, as a testament to its customer support and enterprise financing initiatives. Adong, the founder of Ayoma Manufacturing and Construction Company in Soroti, shared her business journey during the bank’s Customer Service Week stakeholder breakfast held at Hotel Africana on 7 October 2025.
The engagement, themed “Listening to the Sound of the River,” brought together a select group of clients to share feedback, strengthen partnerships, and identify new areas for collaboration.
Adong narrated how she left a corporate sales job in Kampala three years ago to return to Soroti and invest in a business aimed at empowering women—especially single mothers—through employment and skills development. After struggling to secure financial support from various institutions, she obtained a Shs300 million loan from Equity Bank, which enabled her to establish Ayoma Manufacturing and Construction Company in January this year.
“Equity Bank did more than provide financing. They gave me financial literacy training and capacity-building support, which helped me structure and grow the business,” she said.
Since then, Ayoma has completed key construction projects, including waterborne toilets at Queen Elizabeth National Park and new staff accommodation at Mount Elgon National Park. The company has also expanded into manufacturing under Ayoma Toilet Papers Industry Ltd, supported through Equity’s contract financing, which enabled access to raw materials and market entry.
Adong’s products are now distributed in Lira, Gulu, Mbale, Jinja, and will soon reach Kampala. She employs several single mothers to support her goal of uplifting vulnerable households.
Equity Bank Executive Director, Claver Serumaga, said the bank is strengthening follow-up engagement with clients to ensure continuity and sustainable growth.
“We are reorganising how we work with our customers—supporting their progress, building their capacity, and growing together,” he said.
Adong appealed to government to consider tax incentives for local manufacturers to encourage expansion and competitiveness in the market.
