Equity Bank Uganda has disbursed Shs37.6 billion in green loans to support climate-friendly projects, including clean energy and sustainable businesses, as the bank steps up efforts to promote Uganda’s transition to a green economy.
The bank’s Managing Director, Gift Shoko, revealed this on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, during the third CEOs’ Breakfast Meeting and High-Level Dialogue on Green Economy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainability at the UNICEF Conference Centre in Mbuya, Kampala.
The meeting, held under the theme “Accelerating Uganda’s Green Economy Transition Through Digital Transformation”, brought together government officials, business leaders, development partners and civil society representatives to discuss ways of financing environmentally sustainable economic growth.
Shoko said financial institutions had a critical role to play in funding projects that protect the environment while creating jobs and supporting businesses.
He highlighted the bank’s contribution to climate finance, including the sale of 157,035 clean-energy products, partnerships with 18 clean-energy implementing organisations and Shs4.75 billion in green financing through the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC).
The bank has also contributed to the planting of 96,638 trees over the past three years.
Shoko further revealed that Equity Group had signed a $200 million agreement to support smallholder farmers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through smart agriculture and related interventions. Uganda is expected to access about 25% of the funding, equivalent to approximately $50 million.
The bank is also promoting tree planting in schools to encourage young people to take part in environmental conservation.
Under its Equity Green Schools Programme, the bank aims to plant 200,000 trees by 2027. The initiative includes a target of planting 50,000 trees across 25 schools in 10 districts by the end of 2026, alongside the development of school orchards.
Previous activities include planting about 3,500 trees at Nakanyonyi Secondary School in Mukono, 1,500 at Kyasanku Hill College in Mpigi and 1,000 at St Julian Secondary School in Wakiso. More than 43,000 indigenous trees have also been planted on the slopes of Busoga College Mwiri.
Shoko said partnerships between government, financial institutions, businesses and development organisations were necessary to expand green investments and make sustainable projects accessible to more Ugandans.
“The question is no longer whether Uganda can afford to invest in sustainability. The question is whether we can afford not to,” he said.
He added that the bank was committed to financing sustainable solutions and building partnerships to accelerate the country’s green transition.
The meeting also examined how Uganda could attract more investment into renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, clean cooking, water and sanitation, and environmentally sustainable businesses.
Participants highlighted the effects of rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable rainfall on agriculture, livelihoods and economic growth. They called for greater investment in renewable energy, wetland protection and the restoration of degraded land.
Discussions also focused on the role of digital technology in improving energy management, expanding access to clean energy and helping farmers adapt to climate change.
Other issues raised included the need to make green projects attractive to investors, improve employee wellbeing and expand economic opportunities for women and young people.
Equity Bank Uganda said it was supporting women and youth through financial literacy training, access to appropriate financing and skills development. The bank also highlighted its work under the Young Africa Works framework, saying it had trained more than 100,000 young people.
Speaker of Parliament Jackson Oboth was the keynote speaker and guest of honour at the meeting. Other participants included representatives of UNICEF, the World Bank, Heifer International, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Uganda Communications Commission, the International Organization for Migration and other public and private sector organisations.
Shoko said Uganda could achieve greater progress in building a green economy if government created an enabling environment, businesses developed innovative solutions, development partners supported investment and financial institutions provided financing at scale.
Equity Bank Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to using finance to support environmental protection, sustainable economic growth and opportunities for wealth creation.
