Mr. Azim Kassam

Mr. Azim Kassam
Chairman, Board of Directors

COVID-19 Pandemic – A Message from the Board

At this time of crisis, I would like to express, on behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff of DTB, our solidarity with the people of Uganda.

DTB fully supports the bold and timely steps taken by the Government and Ministry of Health to address the pandemic and curb the spread of the virus in Uganda, and we thank and commend the Government and the Ministry for their strong leadership and direction. We also thank our customers for their support, and our employees for their dedication, hard work and perseverance in these difficult circumstances.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda (R) claps as DTB Chief Executive Officer Varghese Thambi (C) and Company Secretary Mbabazi Emejeit (L) present a cheque for UGX 250 million from DTB to the National COVID-19 Response Fund.
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda (R) claps as DTB Chief Executive Officer Varghese Thambi (C) and Company Secretary Mbabazi Emejeit (L) present a cheque for UGX 250 million from DTB to the National COVID-19 Response Fund.

DTB has tried to play its part in the efforts to defeat COVID-19, primarily through enabling our customers to carry on running their businesses and daily lives safely and with minimal disruption.

We have implemented measures to protect our staff and customers against the spread of the virus and have continued to offer in-branch banking services, albeit scaled down in line with the guidance on social distancing and direction from the Uganda Bankers’ Association. Nevertheless, we urge our customers to use our digital banking services wherever possible.

In line with guidelines issued by the Bank of Uganda, we are taking steps to support our customers and to minimize the negative economic impacts of the pandemic on them and their businesses. We were also pleased to make a UGX 250 million donation to the National COVID-19 Response Fund and a further donation to the industry-wide fundraising led by the Uganda Bankers’ Association. These contributions are in addition to our usual CSR activities.

The effects of this pandemic are likely to be long-lasting and far-reaching, touching lives and economies across the globe. We are confident, however, that our resilience and collective discipline and effort will ultimately enable us to emerge from these turbulent times ready to propel Uganda once again onto a path of sustainable growth and development.

DTB stands ready to work with our key stakeholders to help address the obstacles and challenges that lie ahead. In the meantime, we urge you all to heed the official guidance at this time to minimise transmission of the virus and to ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe and well.

- Azim H. A. Kassam, Chairman, Board of Directors

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