Equity Bank injects Shs 10m into Watoto Golf Tournament

What the report says

Equity Bank Uganda has pledged Shs 10 million to support the third edition of the 2026 Watoto Golf Tournament, according to The Observer. The announcement was made at a partners’ briefing at Uganda Golf Club in Kampala on Wednesday, where the bank said the sponsorship fits its wider focus on women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.

The tournament, themed “Hope on the Green,” is aimed at raising Shs 450 million to help at least 1,000 vulnerable women receive business starter kits valued at Shs 450,000 each. Organisers say the funds are intended to help beneficiaries begin income-generating activities and support their households. Equity Bank managing director Gift Shoko said the partnership goes beyond sports and reflects the lender’s broader work with women, youth and small business owners.

The bank pointed to its EquiMama programme as part of that strategy. The initiative, launched in 2021, offers women-owned enterprises access to small unsecured loans, financial literacy, mentorship, networking and other support services. The Observer also reported that the programme has reached tens of thousands of women through training and lending.

Watoto Church leaders welcomed the contribution, saying the tournament is meant to restore dignity by giving women practical opportunities to earn a living. The event began with a caddies’ competition on Monday and is expected to continue with activities designed to broaden participation in golf while backing Watoto’s women’s empowerment work.