Jubilation filled Nabumali Boarding Primary School on Thursday, October 23, 2025, as Equity Bank Uganda officially handed over its first-ever bus to the school. The milestone event is set to improve student transportation and strengthen community engagement.
The handover ceremony was attended by senior bank officials, local leaders, and education stakeholders, including District Education Officer Mr. Paddy Khaukha, area Mayor Mr. Moses Kutoi, and Reverend Eridad Milton Shissa, Diocesan Secretary of Mbale Diocese. The celebration began at 9:00 a.m. at the Equity Bank Mbale Branch with a flag-off of the bus, followed by a warm reception at the school featuring poetry and dance performances by students.
Excitement extended beyond the school, with village residents joining in the celebrations, highlighting the significance of the bus for both students and the wider community.
Nabumali Boarding Primary School acquired the bus through Equity Bank’s Asset Financing facility, which enables institutions to obtain assets without paying the full cost upfront. In this arrangement, the school contributed 20% of the total cost while Equity Bank covered the remaining 80%. The loan will be repaid over nine school terms, equivalent to three years, explained Nakhasanga Ronald Sam, Regional Manager, Eastern Equity Bank.
The bus is expected to address longstanding transportation challenges for students attending academic events and will also facilitate travel for staff and other school activities. Head Teacher Beatrice Katami Wachaya noted the broader impact: “This bus is not just for the school but also for the community. It supports our efforts to make a difference beyond the classroom.”
Founded in 1975, Nabumali Boarding Primary School is one of the oldest primary schools in the Bugisu sub-region, partially owned by the Church of Uganda and the government. It remains the only boarding primary school under the Universal Primary Education program in the area. The donation highlights Equity Bank’s commitment to empowering education and supporting communities to achieve their goals.
