Equity Bank boosts Martyrs Choral Festival with sh30m

KAMPALA - Equity Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to faith-based initiatives by contributing shillings 30 million towards the National Choral Festival, the first key activity on the Uganda Martyrs celebrations calendar organised by Vision Group.

The Friday, May 30, 2025, handover ceremony at Vision Group headquarters in Industrial Area, Kampala city, was marked by a warm exchange between Equity Bank’s head of marketing Claire Tumwesigye and Barbara Kaija, the Group’s Editor-in-Chief. 

Tumwesigye officially presented the bank’s contribution to Kaija, who expressed heartfelt gratitude for the financial and moral support the bank has consistently provided since the festival's inception.

Vision Group Editor-in-Chief Barbara Kaija (L) receives a shillings 30 million dummy cheque from Equity Bank Head of Marketing Clare Tumwesigye (2nd left), flanked by the Relationship Manager Religious banking, Samuel Kazooba (2nd right) and John Bosco Nuwagaba, the Head Religious Banking Sector. The function was at the Vision Group' CEO Boardroom on Friday, May 30, 2025. (All photos Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Equity Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to faith-based initiatives by contributing shillings 30 million towards the National Choral Festival.

“We are grateful that you saw the vision from the very beginning,” Kaija said. “When we launched the National Choral Festival idea last year, Equity was the first to believe in it. Now you’ve given shillings 30 million and another 10 million to support journalism. That’s remarkable.”

Kaija added that the media is key in amplifying stories of faith and resilience, noting that without financial support, many of these transformative narratives might never be told and heard.

“Such stories can only be told if journalists are facilitated to follow them,” she said. “Equity has shown it understands the real cost of impactful storytelling.”

Equity Bank Head of Marketing Clare Tumwesigye

The handover came barely 24 hours before the festival’s grand finale, scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 31, at Serena Hotel. This marks the second edition of the choral festival and will feature six Christian choirs from both the Anglican and Catholic faiths.

The choirs will use music to celebrate Uganda’s rich Christian heritage, a cornerstone of the Martyrs’ Day commemorations.

Creativity and resilience

Claire Tumwesigye commended Vision Group for its unwavering dedication to impactful projects, praising its creativity and resilience.

“What you start, you see through. That’s why Equity is here,” she said. “We partner with serious institutions that are aligned with our values. We are here again to support evangelisation—not just as an act of corporate social responsibility, but as part of our institutional strategy.”

She elaborated that Equity Bank views such initiatives as strategic engagements rather than routine CSR gestures.

“Evangelisation doesn’t end with missionaries; today, it is driven by Ugandans themselves through platforms like the Choral Festival. We want to help keep that spirit alive.”

Tumwesigye also shared Equity’s interest in expanding the choral festival's reach across all regions. “We have over 50 branches countrywide. We’d love to walk with the choirs from the start—support them at a regional level before they converge in Kampala. That way, the festival becomes even more rooted in local communities.”

Christian evangelism

Her remarks reflected Equity Bank’s broader vision of sustaining Christian evangelism in Uganda through local initiatives.

“We may not have the missionaries anymore—but evangelism is still happening; only now it’s Ugandans evangelising Ugandans. Activities like this choral competition keep that fire burning. And equity will continue to be part of that.”

Vision Group Editor-in-Chief Barbara Kaija gifts Barbara Among, the Manager Corporate Communication Equity Bank Uganda.

Vision Group's Kaija gifts Ivan Kaweesi, Senior Supervisor Events and Trade, Equity Bank. Looking on (L-R) is Clare Tumwesigye, Samuel Kazooba and John Bosco Nuwagaba

“We don't have the missionaries coming down here anymore. But this is now Ugandan evangelisation through the different activities, like this choral festival that we do with the Uganda Martyrs.”

Calling for more innovation, Tumwesigye encouraged stakeholders to keep the Martyrs’ story alive all year round.

“I wish we could develop more and innovate more around it—to sort of bring it to centre stage and keep it alive in people's minds throughout the year.”

She concluded by highlighting Equity Bank’s unique commitment to the faith sector, saying, “We’re the only bank with a dedicated religious banking unit. That speaks volumes about our commitment.”

Unity and spiritual renewal

This year’s festival aims to commemorate Martyrs’ Day through a shared musical celebration that promotes dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect between Christian communities. By bringing together different denominations and engaging the public in a celebration of Uganda’s Christian musical heritage, the festival is creating a platform for unity and spiritual renewal.

The competition is structured with separate categories for Anglican and Catholic choirs. Each group performs three genres: an original religious folk song, a set piece, and an original composition. The total cash prize amounts to Shs 36 million.

Other sponsors of the festival include Centenary Bank, the National Social Security Fund, Pepsi, the Parliament of Uganda, the Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority.