KAMPALA, UGANDA — October 7, 2026: Absa Bank Uganda has launched a new wealth investment and advisory proposition aimed at helping customers invest, diversify, grow and preserve their wealth through a single banking relationship.
The launch comes as Uganda’s investment market continues to expand, with assets under management in Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) reaching Shs7.06tn, according to the Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
The amount, held across more than 220,000 funded investor accounts, has risen sharply from Shs731bn in June 2021, reflecting increased investor participation and demand for professionally managed investment solutions.
Uganda’s pool of long-term savings has also expanded, with the retirement benefits sector managing more than Shs30tn in assets in FY2024/25. The economy grew by 6.4% in FY2025/26 to about Shs250.4tn.
Against this backdrop, Absa Wealth seeks to extend banking beyond everyday transactions, savings and borrowing by providing access to wealth advisory, investment solutions, specialised lending, multi-currency banking and local and international investment opportunities.
Speaking at the launch, Absa Bank Uganda Managing Director David Wandera said the proposition responds to the growth of Uganda’s investment market and changing financial ambitions among customers.
“As Uganda’s economy grows and more wealth is created, the conversation must increasingly move beyond how we save to how we invest, diversify and preserve that wealth. We already support our customers to transact, save, borrow and grow their businesses. Absa Wealth allows us to extend that relationship further by helping them put their money to work and make more deliberate investment decisions for the future,” Wandera said.
A key feature of the proposition is the combination of Absa’s local market expertise with the capabilities of Absa Group, which operates across several African markets.
Eligible customers will have access to investment opportunities beyond Uganda, including international markets such as Mauritius, and investments denominated in US dollars, euros and British pounds.
The offering includes foreign currency bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and structured deposits, allowing customers to diversify across asset classes, currencies and markets.
“Wealth management is not about a single product or investment. It starts with understanding a customer’s goals and developing a tailored strategy to help them achieve them,” Wandera said.
“Our proposition allows us to look at a customer’s banking, liquidity, financing and investment needs more holistically and, through Absa’s broader African and international capabilities, support them as those needs become more sophisticated,” he added.
The proposition caters for customers at different stages of their investment journey. Through Absa Invest Plus, customers can start investing with as little as Shs10,000 or the equivalent in US dollars.
The professionally managed solution, offered through Absa and managed by Sanlam, provides access to low-risk investment funds in both shillings and US dollars, investing primarily in government securities and other interest-bearing investments.
Customers can also invest in Government Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds through Absa, while those with more advanced wealth management needs can access wealth advisory, multi-currency banking, specialised lending and local and international investment opportunities.
The launch comes as Uganda’s capital markets continue to mobilise long-term savings. Beyond the Shs7.06tn held in Collective Investment Schemes, the CMA says more than Shs23.4tn has been mobilised through the country’s capital markets.
Capital Markets Authority Chief Executive Officer Josephine Okui Ossiya said increased investor participation reflects growing confidence in Uganda’s regulated capital markets.
“As the regulator, our priority is to ensure that this growth is sustained and extended to a wider segment of the population within a framework that safeguards investors and preserves market integrity,” Ossiya said.
She said investment products should be appropriately structured, transparently disclosed and suited to investors’ needs and risk profiles, supported by continuous investor education and effective investor protection.
The event brought together representatives from the CMA and Bank of Uganda, fund managers and investment industry stakeholders, including Cornerstone, Sanlam Allianz, Prudential and Old Mutual.
Absa officials said the new proposition is intended to encourage Ugandans to move beyond accumulating savings towards more deliberate investment, wealth creation and long-term financial security.
