Sponsorship aligns with EquiMama programme as tournament targets UGX450 million to equip 1,000 vulnerable women with business starter kits.

Equity Bank Uganda has committed UGX10 million to the 2026 Watoto Golf Tournament, extending its support for women’s enterprise development through an initiative that will equip vulnerable women to start income-generating businesses.

The sponsorship, unveiled during the tournament’s partners’ briefing at the Uganda Golf Club on Wednesday, comes as the lender continues to position enterprise development as a key pillar of its inclusive banking strategy.

This year’s tournament, themed “Hope on the Green,” aims to raise UGX450 million to provide 1,000 vulnerable women with business starter kits valued at Shs450,000 each, enabling them to start income-generating enterprises.

Equity Bank Uganda Managing Director Gift Shoko said the initiative reflects the bank’s broader commitment to supporting women and young entrepreneurs through access to finance, financial literacy and business development.

“The Watoto Golf Tournament is a cause that is very near and dear to our mission of supporting women and youth entrepreneurs. That is why we have once again come forward to offer our support,” Shoko said.

He added that the tournament represents more than a sporting event, arguing that the resources raised will help create sustainable livelihoods for families while strengthening local communities.

“We believe the swings on the golf course this Saturday will go far beyond golf. They will empower families, uplift children and strengthen our economy. We shall continue supporting this cause because lasting transformation begins with creating opportunities for people to improve their lives,” he said.

The partnership also reinforces the bank’s EquiMama programme, launched in 2021 to address financing barriers facing women entrepreneurs following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the initiative, women entrepreneurs can access unsecured loans ranging from UGX100,000 to UGX5 million alongside business training, mentorship, networking opportunities and insurance cover that includes maternity, life, catastrophe, fire and disability protection.

According to the bank, more than 89,000 women have received business development training through the programme, while over 40,000 women organised in various groups have accessed financing.

Beyond lending, the programme provides financial literacy, business advisory services and market linkages aimed at helping women-owned enterprises expand and become sustainable.

The sponsorship reflects a growing trend among financial institutions to combine access to capital with skills development as a way of improving the survival and growth prospects of micro and small businesses, particularly those owned by women.

Watoto Church Lead Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo said partnerships between faith-based organisations and the private sector are critical to creating lasting social and economic impact.

“The vision behind the Watoto Golf Tournament is to restore dignity by equipping women with practical opportunities to earn a living and care for their families,” he said.

“We are grateful to partners like Equity Bank who share our belief that lasting transformation happens when compassion is matched with empowerment.”

The tournament, which began with a caddies’ competition earlier this week, also includes activities aimed at introducing new players to golf as organisers seek to broaden participation in the sport.

As golfers tee off this weekend, organisers say the event is intended to deliver more than competition, serving instead as a fundraising platform to support entrepreneurship among vulnerable women and strengthen household incomes through small business creation.