DTB wins sport award at inaugural bankers’ awards
Some of the accolades and trophies won by DTB Bank at the Annual Bankers' Gala in Kampala
Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) Uganda has been named the winner of the Sport Award of the Year at the first-ever Annual Bankers’ Awards, an event launched to evaluate and celebrate performance across Uganda’s financial sector.
The awards, organised by the Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA) in collaboration with the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS), were hosted at Mestil Hotel in Kampala. Categories ranged from customer service and financial inclusion to digital innovation and corporate social responsibility, reflecting an industry increasingly attentive to both business outcomes and workplace culture.
Why DTB stood out
While banks are often assessed on financial metrics, the Sport Award highlights a growing recognition of employee wellness as a component of institutional performance. DTB’s submission emphasized its investment in staff health, physical fitness sessions, digital health tools, and ongoing occupational safety training, as outlined in its 2024 Integrated Report.
The bank says it has been expanding internal health initiatives, including fitness challenges and sports activities that encourage cross-department interaction.
Leadership perspective
DTB Uganda CEO Godfrey Sebaana welcomed the recognition, framing it as a reflection of institutional culture rather than a single achievement.
“We believe the well-being of our staff is directly linked to our organizational vitality,” Sebaana said. “Embedding sports and wellness into our work culture helps build teams that are more engaged and resilient.”
He added that the bank views wellness as a strategic investment, not an add-on, a philosophy he argues improves service delivery and long-term growth.
Sebaana also took part in the ceremony by presenting awards to other institutions, a symbolic nod to DTB’s growing visibility within the sector.
The introduction of wellness-related awards points to a broader shift within Uganda’s financial sector, which has traditionally been associated with high stress and rigid work structures. By spotlighting sports and staff wellness programs, the awards appear to encourage banks to rethink how employee health relates to productivity and customer service.
As financial institutions across East Africa increase their focus on digital transformation and customer-centered strategies, internal cultural reforms—like wellness programs—are emerging as an additional pillar of competitiveness.
