I&M Bank set to open in former Crane Bank premises at Ntinda, Seeta and Entebbe

What the report says

I&M Bank Uganda is preparing to open branches at former Crane Bank premises in Ntinda, Seeta and Entebbe, according to Watchdog Uganda. The move returns the properties to banking use after a long-running dispute over the leases tied to buildings that once housed Crane Bank before it was placed under Bank of Uganda receivership in 2016.

The article says the Ntinda site is one of the disputed premises linked to Meera Investments Limited, which is associated with businessman Sudhir Ruparelia. Meera challenged the transfer of leasehold interests to dfcu Bank, arguing that the leases could not be assigned without its written consent. The report notes that the High Court Land Division later sided with Meera in October 2023, cancelling dfcu’s leasehold titles, ordering vacant possession and awarding damages, while the broader matter remained subject to appeal.

Watchdog Uganda reports that dfcu said it had already exited the branches in 2020 and that the properties were acquired under an agreement with Bank of Uganda. By 2026, the court had noted that dfcu had vacated nearly all of the premises, though restoration work was still incomplete. I&M has not publicly announced opening dates in the material provided, but the reported plan marks another step in the return of these sites to active commercial banking.