KAMPALA, Uganda – Absa Bank Uganda announced Thursday a new campaign, “Play Your Cards Right,” that will award 14 customers a total of 200 million Ugandan shillings (about $53,000 USD) in cash prizes. The initiative aims to boost digital payment adoption.
The campaign, running from June to August 2025, is open to all Absa debit and credit cardholders, including personal, business, local and foreign accounts. To enter, customers must use their Absa cards for at least five transactions per month.
Each month, four winners will be selected – two from personal banking and two from business banking – each receiving 10 million shillings. This brings the total monthly prize pool to 40 million shillings. In August, two grand prize winners, one from each banking segment, will each receive 40 million shillings.
Moses Rutahigwa, Absa Bank Uganda’s Retail and Business Banking Director, said the campaign “not only [rewards] our customers but also [encourages] greater adoption of secure, fast, and convenient digital payments.”
According to the Bank of Uganda’s 2023 Financial Stability Report, debit card transactions in Uganda reached 561.5 billion shillings, with over 3.8 million active debit cards. Credit card usage also increased, with transaction values hitting 30.9 billion shillings from nearly 10,000 active credit cards.
“Our cards offer a seamless experience, from quick tap-to-pay functionality to wide merchant acceptance and robust in-app controls,” Rutahigwa said.
Sam Kiyaga, Head of Alternate Channels at Absa Bank Uganda, highlighted the bank’s focus on innovation and safety, noting features like real-time transaction alerts, card locking controls and spending limits.
As of December 2024, Absa reported an 18.5% growth in card payment volume, surpassing the market average of 11%. Active card usage grew by 15%, significantly above the market rate of 2%. Absa leads in card issuance in Uganda, issuing over 70% of credit cards and contributing 92% of credit card payment volumes.
“Our leadership in the digital payments space underscores our commitment to financial inclusion and customer empowerment,” Kiyaga said.
Victor Makere, Visa Uganda Country Manager, added, “Our partnership with Absa is rooted in trust, innovation, and a shared vision of financial inclusion. Campaigns like this not only reward Absa Visa cardholders but also accelerate the adoption of secure digital payments across Uganda.”
Absa Bank Uganda Limited is part of Absa Group Limited, one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With 39 branches, 85 ATMs and 25 Cash Deposit Machines countrywide, Absa Uganda offers retail, business, corporate and investment solutions.
