Absa Bank Uganda Limited, formerly known asBarclays Bank of Uganda Limited, is acommercial bank in Uganda. It is licensed by theBank of Uganda, the country'scentral bank and national banking regulator.[3] The bank is a subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, a financial servicesconglomerate, based in South Africa, with banking subsidiaries in 12 African countries and representative offices in two other African countries.[4] Absa Bank Group, whose shares trade on theJSE Limited, was reported to have total assets in excess of US$91 billion, as of October 2019.[5]
The bank is primarily involved in meeting the banking needs of individuals,small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), and large corporations. Before 2006, the bank focused on meeting the banking needs of only large corporations and high-net-worth individuals. That focus was loosened to include SMEs and regular customers.[6] As of December 2023, the bank's total assets were valued at UGX:4.5 trillion (US$1.19 billion).[2] At 31 December 2021, shareholders' equity was valued at UGX:521.956 billion (US$148 million).[7] That year, the bank's after-tax profit was USh:110 billion (US$31.2 million).[8] As of 31 December 2019, Absa Bank Uganda was the third-largest commercial bank in the country, by assets.[9] As of December 2022, Absa Bank Uganda has assets valued at USh4.23 trillion (approx. US$1.143 billion), accounting for 9.31 per cent of total banking assets in the country at that time.[10]
The bank opened in 1927, with two branches in the capital city,Kampala, and one inJinja, the country's second-largest commercial centre, at that time. In 1969, the bank acquired the Ugandan business of theCommercial Bank of Africa.[11] In February 2007, the bank completed its acquisition ofNile Bank Uganda Limited, strengthening its presence in the country.[12][13]
The bank's headquarters is at 2 Hannington Road, onNakasero Hill, inKampala. As of July 2013[update], the bank maintained branches at the following locations:[17][18]
Bugoloobi Branch – 128 Spring Road,Bugoloobi, Kampala
Beginning in August 2019, Barclays Bank of Uganda began re-branding to Absa Bank Uganda Limited.[22] The process concluded on 11 November 2019, when the legal and business names of the bank changed to Absa Bank Uganda Limited.[23][24]
The bank is governed by a board of directors. The chairman of the board is one of the non-executive directors. As of April 2025, the Chairperson was Keith Kalyegira.[1] The CEO and managing director in acting capacity is David Wandera.[25]
In March 2020, the Acting Chairperson was Nadine Byarugaba.[26] She left in December 2024.[27] From 1 April 2020Mumba Kalifungwa began serving as the substantive managing director and CEO.[28] He left in March 2025 and joinedStanbic Bank Uganda Limited as CEO.[27]
In December 2021, Absa Bank Uganda was the first financial institution in the country to introduce ATM machines capable of accepting and dispensing cash, using smart mobile phones, without the presence of the traditional ATM card. The Absa Banking App generates a QR Code, which the customer scans on to the ATM screen and then allows the execution of the desired transaction.[32][33]
Aftertax:UGX:146 billion (US$38.6 million) (2023)[2]
