MTN bags most coveted trophy at the Digital Impact Awards; who are the other companies leading digital finance transformation in Uganda?

MTN Uganda and MTN MoMo were the biggest winners at the 2022 Digital Impact Awards Africa, with the two sister companies bagging the biggest accolade of the night; the Digital Brand of the Year. Centenary Bank came second and took the first runner-up trophy (Gold) for Digital Brand of the Year.

MTN Uganda and MTN MoMo’s overall victory ended the four years long uninterrupted banks’ dominance of this category. In both 2020 and 2021, Standard Chartered Bank won Digital Brand of the year while in 2019, Stanbic Bank won Digital Brand of the Year. In 2018, it was won by Centenary Bank.

While handing over the awards to the different winners, Eng. David Karubanga, the Patron of HiPipo, Member of Parliament Kigorobya County and Chairperson Committee of Physical Infrastructure at the Uganda Parliament thanked all companies and individuals that are spearheading Uganda’s digital and financial inclusion journey.

“I am happy to see the progress that the country is making on matters digital and financial inclusion. The efforts of the government and the private sector are all contributing to this success. The Digital Impact Awards Africa continue to play a key awareness and appreciation role,” Eng Karubanga said, adding;

“I thank HiPipo and its partners for being consistent. Even in a bigger way, I congratulate all the winners and encourage them to continue innovating for the betterment of our people. With active collaboration and partnerships, we shall be able to transform our country.”  

Now in its ninth consecutive edition, the Digital Impact Awards Africa is a platform that promotes Digital Inclusion, Financial Inclusion and Cyber Security. The Awards recognize and celebrate stakeholders that are spearheading the use of digital mediums to serve communities.

The Digital Impact Awards Africa celebrate digital excellence across the continent; big or small, local or international.

The 2022 edition was part of the broader Digital and Financial Inclusion summit held at Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday 18^th November.

The summit brought together C-Level executives and stakeholders that are spearheading the scaling, adoption and usage of digital and financial services across Africa. It explored strategic trends and technologies that are shaping the future of Digital, ICTs and Business. Special attention was paid to the safety of customers’ funds and security of platforms in the Digital Financial Services ecosystem.

Both the Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit and the Digital Impact Awards Africa were organized by HiPipo in partnership with Level One Project, Mojaloop, PortX (formerly ModusBox), and CrossLake Technologies and supported by the Gates Foundation.

2022 Digital Impact Awards Africa Winners’ List.

• Financial Inclusion Excellence.
  • Letshego Digital Mall – Gold
  • MTN MoMo Advance – Diamond.

• Digital Banking Excellence.
  • Stanbic Bank – Gold.
  • Standard Chartered Bank – Diamond
• Banking Innovation Excellence.
  • Craft Silicon | Mobile Banking Solution – ELMA – Gold
  • CenteMobile Loans| Centenary Bank – Diamond

• Community/MFI Banking Innovation Excellence.
  • Pride Microfinance Limited – Gold
  • Centenary Bank – Diamond
• FinTech Innovation Excellence.
  • Safecar by SafeBoda – Gold.
  • Kawu Smart Card by Kawu Uganda – Diamond

• Financial Services Digital Excellence.
  • Comviva and Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited (AMCUL) – Silver
  • MTN MoMo – Gold.
  • Standard Chartered Bank – Diamond

• Consumer Goods Digital Excellence.
  • Jude Color Solutions – Gold.
  • Jumia Uganda – Diamond

• Utilities and Government Services Digital Excellence.
  • NSSF – Gold.
  • NWSC – Diamond

• Technology Services Digital Excellence.
  • Airtel Uganda & Airtel Mobile Commerce – Gold.
  • MTN Uganda & MTN MoMo – Diamond

• Digital Campaign Excellence. 
  • NSSF Hi-Innovator – Gold.
  • Stanbic National Schools Championship – Diamond

• Digital Brand of the Year.
  • Centenary Bank – Gold
  • MTN Uganda & MTN MoMo – Diamond.

Panel Discussions at the 2022 Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit.

Financial Inclusion for Women on Wheels; Women Boda Boda Riders.

The Panelists were: 

• Nyadoi Zurah. 
• Babra Brizila Asimo.
• Atim Albright.
• Jenifer Kia.
• Angwech Dillish.

Instant and Inclusive Payment Systems (IIPS): Why are Instant and Inclusive Payment Systems (IIPS) important? How do we build National Instant and Inclusive Payments Systems?

The Panelists were:

• Mercy Nekesa – Founder and CEO, Sundetails by Raining Vegetables.
• Moses Rutahigwa – Head, Consumer, Private and Business Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda.
• Edgar Mugume – Head of Business Development, Craft Silicon
• Paul Ekudu – Executive Director, Pegasus Technologies.

Winning from the Boardroom; What are C-Level Executives and Business Leaders doing to ensure that Digital and Financial Inclusion is achieved. What are they doing to bring onboard the least included groups particularly; Women, Youth, PWDs and Informal Traders.

The Panelists were: 

• Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo – Ag. Executive Director UCC.
• Damali Ssali – Chief Programmes and Projects Officer PSFU.
• Anna Nambooze – Country Director for Uganda and South Sudan, TradeMark East Africa.
• Lydia Nakamya – Head, Digital Banking and Partnerships, Standard Chartered Bank.

Financial systems for the poor: An African continent where poor people, people at the bottom of the pyramid can capture opportunities and build resilience through financial services. The Ugandan point of view! 

The panelists were:

• Nelson Kituuka – Managing Director, Card Pesa. 
• Vincent Tumwijukye – Chief Executive Officer, FutureLink Technologies.
• Japhet Aritho – Managing Director, Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited.
• Beatrice Mawemuko – Head Strategic Partnership, MTN Mobile Money. 
• Andrew Ssemaganda- General Manager Strategy, Centenary Bank.