KAMPALA – Centenary Bank, a commercial microfinance bank has hosted the Muslims community to an Iftar Dinner at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
Speaking at the dinner, the Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Fabian Kasi told guests that Centenary Bank recognizes that faith is a key aspect of humanity and therefore it plays an important role in shaping the norms and beliefs of the many communities the Bank serves.
He said that, “Centenary Bank embraces and collaborates with people from different religious backgrounds and a good number of our customers are Muslims.”
He revealed to guests that the bank had been more profitable for the year- ending December 2018 and attributed this success to them, saying, “recently,
we released our financial results for the year 2018 and am happy to report
that our profits grew by 7.3 per cent to UGX 107.6 billion profit after tax. I
thank you for contributing towards this achievement.”
Mr. Kasi also encouraged Muslims present at the dinner to embrace the
bank’s digital financial services and alternative channels available to them, including CenteMobile, Online Banking, Agent Banking and Visa.
“We launched the Kwasa with Cente Visa promotion in April this year where we are rewarding our customers for using their CenteVisa cards at different
Visa outlets and channels including online purchases online shops and payment platforms, on Point of Sale machines across the globe at hyper and
super markets, discount stores, airports at duty free or onboard, at hotels, restaurants, pharmacies, bookshops, petrol stations among other places,”
revealed Mr. Kasi, adding that, “You are welcome to participate in this promotion
with weekly prizes including airtime, cash and shopping vouchers, Centenary
Bank goodies and a grand prize of a fully paid trip to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt for 10 lucky winners.”
Mr. Kasi also explained that the bank would be hosting a number of dinners in selected towns countrywide, “As a sign of solidarity, we will be hosting brothers and sisters in the faith across the major regions of the country to Iftar Dinners,” adding that “We will be in Jinja, Hoima and Gulu over the coming weeks to resonate with you through this season because your partnership is important to us.”
The Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Sulaiman Kasule Ndirangwa, the event’s guest of honor, thanked Centenary Bank for giving back to the Muslim community.
He said that, “Giving back is important. However, few give back and few remember the people who have contributed to their growth,” adding “This is not the first time Centenary Bank is giving back to the Muslim community and we pray Allah will reward the bank.”
Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Sulaiman Kasule Ndirangwa also explained that when
the month of Ramadhan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates
of Hell are closed and the devils are chased encouraging muslims across the
country to use the Ramadhan season to ask Allah for forgiveness, draw near
to Allah and help those in need including the orphans, widows and the poor.
Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting
is observed from dawn to sunset. The common practice during Ramadan
includes a pre-dawn meal before the fast called the “suhur”, while the meal at
sunset that breaks the fast is the “Iftar”. Muslims also engage in increased
prayer and charity during Ramadhan.
The Ramadhan period is expected to
come to an end in early June, to be confirmed by the Muslim leaders.
