Centenary Rural Development Group Limited and Huawei Technologies Uganda have signed a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating digital transformation and expanding financial inclusion in Uganda and across Africa.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Shanghai, China, on May 21, with both organizations describing it as a major step toward AI-driven banking and modern digital financial services.
Officials said the agreement would focus on building intelligent banking systems powered by artificial intelligence, strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure, modernising data centres, and improving digital access to financial services, particularly for rural and underserved communities.
The partnership followed a high-level visit by Centenary Group executives to Huawei’s global headquarters in Shenzhen, China, in April this year, where the delegation explored digital banking technologies and innovation systems used in different parts of the world.
Under the agreement, the two organisations identified eight areas of cooperation, including digital infrastructure development, human capital training, joint innovation, research, cloud computing, and enterprise modernisation.
John Ddumba-Ssentamu described the partnership as the most significant technology agreement signed by the group in decades.
“Huawei brings global depth while Centenary brings local mission and deep community trust. Together, we are building something that will matter to millions of Africans,” he said.
Ddumba-Ssentamu said the partnership would support Centenary Group’s transition toward what it called “Bank 5.0,” where artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and real-time data systems are integrated into everyday banking operations.
Fabian Kasi said the banking sector in Uganda was changing rapidly as customers increasingly demand faster and smarter services.
“Customers expect faster credit decisions, smarter services, and a bank that anticipates their needs. This partnership gives Centenary Bank the technology foundation to deliver exactly that,” Kasi said.
Centenary Bank currently serves more than four million customers, most of whom are in rural and peri-urban communities across Uganda.
Officials said the partnership is expected to improve access to credit, strengthen digital banking platforms, and provide more responsive financial services to farmers, traders, and small business owners.
Grace Ssekakubo said the agreement would help build long-term digital capacity within the group.
“This MoU gives us direct access to Huawei’s global expertise in AI, data governance and enterprise modernisation,” she said.
On the Huawei side, Zhang Hao said Uganda was emerging as a key player in Africa’s fast-growing digital financial services sector.
“Africa’s financial services sector is among the most dynamic in the world and Uganda is at its leading edge,” Zhang said.
He added that Huawei would leverage its experience working with more than 5,600 financial institutions in 80 countries to support Centenary Group’s digital transformation agenda.
The agreement aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, the Digital Transformation Roadmap, and the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which seek to expand access to digital services and strengthen the digital economy.
Centenary officials said the group’s Tier 3 Data Centre in Masaka would play a central role in supporting the new digital infrastructure and attracting investment in Uganda’s technology sector.
Analysts say the partnership reflects the growing shift by African financial institutions toward AI-powered banking systems as competition intensifies in the digital economy.