NCBA Bank planted 200 trees at the Uganda Golf Course as part of their pledge to plant 33 hectares of trees in alignment with the government’s National Development Plan (NDP) III.

NCBA Bank, in collaboration with the Uganda Golf Club, launched the 2024 NCBA Golf Series on May 24, 2024 with the focus on inspiring greatness in Uganda’s golfing fraternity. The bank emphasized its comprehensive sustainability initiative aimed at combating climate change and preserving Uganda’s natural ecosystems.

The NCBA Golf Series, now in its fourth annual edition, is set to be bigger and more thrilling than ever before. Spanning across golf clubs in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, the NCBA Golf Series will solidify its position as the premier golfing event in East Africa.

“Today, we celebrate greatness. Our unwavering commitment to supporting golf stems from our belief in greatness and that belief inspires everything we do. We encourage all participants to continue pursuing greatness as we journey through this exciting series,” said Mark Muyobo, the NCBA Bank Managing Director.

Muyobo said that the tournament is in line with the bank’s commitment to sustainability and responsible corporate citizenship; adding that through the NCBA “Change the Story” initiative, which is the bank’s flagship sustainability project, NCBA aims to minimize its direct impact on the climate while executing an elaborate tree planting program.

NCBA Bank planted 200 trees at the Uganda Golf Course as part of their pledge to plant 33 hectares of trees in alignment with the government’s National Development Plan (NDP) III, which seeks to restore 24% of Uganda’s forest cover by 2040. The bank’s top executive reiterated NCBA’s dedication to reducing direct emissions by more than 50% by 2030.  He said efforts include updating diesel generators, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and exploring various system improvements.

“Today, we plant 200 trees on this golf course as a testament to our commitment to sustainability. Tree planting is integral to combating climate change and preserving our natural ecosystems. Our tree-growing activities yield tangible and lasting benefits, including carbon sequestration, employee engagement and community empowerment,” said Muyobo.

The event was an early celebration of the 2024 World Environment Day that is observed annually on 5^th June. Whereas the global theme for 2024 was Our Land, Our Future, Uganda tailored hers to “Land Restoration for Climate Resilience.”

Muyobo challenged Ugandan golfers to reflect on the challenges posed by climate change, identify and implement solutions that protect and restore nature.

NCBA Bank Uganda is a retail financial services provider, focusing on meeting the banking needs of small and medium enterprises and large corporations. The bank is a subsidiary of the NCBA Group Plc, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ivory Coast and Uganda.

Qualifiers for NCBA Grand Finale

The 2024 NCBA Golf Series one-day tournament attracted over 100 golfers including juniors. The tournament played in a stable Ford format had Charles Mutaka excel in the men’s category after returning a total of 41 points, with Sameer Noorani coming second after shooting 40 points.

The tournament marked the opening of the 2024 NCBA golf series that entered the fourth year of competitive  golf events across different courses in Uganda and the East African countries at large.

Seven winners from each group, men and women, qualified to play in the Grand Finale in December in Nairobi, Kenya. The 2024 golf series are aimed at promoting the development of  golf and inspiring greatness in Uganda’s  golfing fraternity.

In addition to Uganda  Golf Club and Entebbe Golf Club, the tournament will also be played at  Jinja Golf Club for the first time.