Pride Bank has launched the Pride Bridge Finance Facility, a specialised financing solution designed to help private schools, educational institutions and religious organisations overcome short-term cash flow challenges while strengthening their long-term financial sustainability.
The launch brought together school proprietors, education stakeholders, development partners and members of the media as Pride Bank expanded its portfolio of sector-specific financial solutions aimed at supporting institutions that play a critical role in Uganda’s socio-economic development.
Officials said Pride Bank developed the Pride Bridge Finance Facility to provide timely working capital that enables schools and religious institutions to maintain uninterrupted operations while awaiting income collections.
The facility allows eligible institutions to access financing ranging from shs 5 million to shs 1 billion, with repayment periods of between one and 60 months structured around institutional cash flow cycles.
The financing can support a wide range of institutional needs, including payment of staff salaries, school maintenance, utility bills, purchase of teaching and learning materials, acquisition of equipment and furniture, as well as construction and expansion of infrastructure.
Speaking during the launch, Timothy Asingya, Relationship Manager – SME at Pride Bank, said the product reflects the bank’s commitment to developing financial solutions that directly respond to customer needs.
“Education is one of the most important drivers of national development. Through the Pride Bridge Finance Facility, we are helping schools manage cash flow more effectively so they can focus on delivering quality education rather than worrying about short-term financing challenges. Our goal is to become a long-term financial partner to Uganda’s education sector by providing practical solutions that strengthen institutional resilience and support sustainable growth,” Asingya said.
The Manager, Agribusiness and Green Finance at Pride Bank, Joseph Lwanga Mugerwa Kiggundu, said the facility goes beyond lending by providing institutions with an integrated financial ecosystem aimed at improving operational efficiency and strengthening financial management.
A key component of the solution is School Pay, Pride Bank’s digital school fees collection platform. Schools enrolled on the platform benefit from secure digital payments, improved reconciliation, enhanced accountability and stronger cash flow records that support better financial planning and credit assessment.
The Pride Bridge Finance Facility is also complemented by additional solutions including school fees loans for parents and guardians, bulk salary processing, salary loans for teaching and non-teaching staff, staff savings schemes and minors’ savings accounts aimed at promoting financial literacy among learners from an early age.
Kiggundu said the integrated nature of the solution sets Pride Bank apart from conventional lenders by addressing the financial needs of the entire education value chain.
“Schools require more than access to credit. They require financial systems that improve efficiency, strengthen governance and support long-term growth. By combining working capital financing with digital fee collection and value-added banking solutions, we are helping schools build stronger financial foundations while creating greater convenience for parents, teachers and learners,” he said.
To qualify for the facility, officials said schools and religious institutions must maintain an institutional account with Pride Bank, enrol on the School Pay platform, demonstrate consistent income collections and provide the required registration and governance documents
