YUMBE, Uganda — Stanbic Bank Uganda has donated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment worth UGX 30 million to Ikafe Police Training School in Yumbe District, strengthening the school’s capacity to equip police recruits with digital skills needed for modern, technology-driven policing.
The equipment, donated as part of the Bank’s employee-led community initiatives during its Love Month activities, will support ICT training at the police school, enabling recruits to build competencies in digital systems, information management and technology-enabled policing.
“Modern policing is increasingly driven by technology. Officers serving in this region require the digital skills and tools needed to respond effectively to today’s evolving security challenges,” Damoni Kitabire, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Stanbic Bank Uganda said.
Handing over the equipment, Kitabire, said technology is increasingly central to effective policing and security operations.
He said the investment was particularly significant given Yumbe’s strategic location as a border district neighbouring South Sudan, where strong institutional capacity is important for maintaining security, facilitating trade and supporting economic activity.
“Effective policing today increasingly requires strong digital capabilities. This is especially important in regions such as Yumbe, where officers operate in an environment that requires them to respond to complex and evolving security challenges,” Kitabire said.
He said the Stanbic contribution goes beyond providing computers and other ICT equipment, but is also intended to strengthen the capacity of the people entrusted with protecting communities.
“The equipment will support ICT training at the police school, enabling recruits to build competencies in digital systems, information management and technology-enabled policing. These capabilities are increasingly important as law enforcement agencies respond to emerging threats, including cybercrime and increasingly sophisticated forms of cross-border criminal activity,” he said.
Kitabire also highlighted the digital infrastructure gap that institutions in remote areas can face compared to their counterparts in urban centres.
“This contribution reflects our commitment to ensuring that young officers training in West Nile have access to the same opportunities and digital resources as their counterparts elsewhere in the country,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) James Okabo Okello, Head of Ikafe Police Training School, welcomed the support. He said the institution has trained more than 1,000 young men and women and currently has more than 150 trainers.
He said the school has continued to develop its capacity to support both police training and the welfare of its recruits and staff.
“The school also has a health centre with medical personnel, a fully fledged laboratory facilitated by National Medical Stores, about five clinical officers and an ambulance. This training school has future prospects beyond what we are seeing today,” SSP Okello said.
He commended Stanbic Bank for investing in the digital capacity of the police force, saying access to ICT equipment and skills will contribute to the adoption of modern approaches to policing.
“With this kind of support, modern policing is going to become the standard of our operations because we now have the tools and capacity to make it possible,” he said.
The initiative was driven by employees from Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Information Technology team, who mobilised funds towards the procurement of the equipment.
Rita Apell, Chief Information Officer at Stanbic Bank, said the contribution demonstrates the impact that employee-led initiatives can have when teams come together around a shared purpose.
“This has been an employee-led initiative, and our IT team came together and contributed funds to procure the equipment. It has truly been about teamwork, and we are very excited about the contribution this initiative will make to the Ikafe community,” Apell said.
The donation forms part of Stanbic Bank Uganda’s broader commitment to education and skills development, which accounts for the largest share of the Bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme.
The initiative also contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, while supporting the government’s wider digital transformation agenda and efforts to strengthen the efficiency of public service delivery.
Kitabire said the long-term value of the investment would be measured by the number of police recruits who use the facilities and skills gained from them over the years.
“ICT infrastructure is a long-term investment. Thousands of police recruits will benefit from these resources over time, making this contribution one that will continue creating value well into the future,” he said.
The latest intervention comes as Stanbic Bank Uganda marks 35 years of serving Uganda under Standard Bank Group, using its anniversary period to reflect on its contribution to communities and institutions across the country.
Kitabire said supporting public institutions is part of the Bank’s broader commitment to contributing to Uganda’s development.
He said, “‘Uganda is our home, we drive her growth’. National development is a shared responsibility, and partnerships such as this hat can be achieved when the private sector works alongside public institutions to strengthen communities and build a more secure and prosperous Uganda.”
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