Winnie Byanyima has strongly criticised Centenary Bank following the freezing of an account belonging to activist Agather Atuhaire, escalating a public dispute that has drawn attention to the bank’s conduct and regulatory compliance.
Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS and wife of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, publicly rebuked the bank, invoking its moral and religious foundations.
“Unacceptable! Centenary Bank are you listening? Our parents founded you to do justice not to side with injustice,” Byanyima said.
The controversy began after Atuhaire raised concerns over the freezing of her account, accusing the bank of failing to notify her and undermining her ability to support her family.
In response, Centenary Bank defended its actions, stating:
“Dear Agather Atuhaire, we acknowledge your feedback and would like to note that the bank’s action was within the requirement of the law following a communication by our regulator, who subsequently notified you of the same. We are here to support you as you meet the expectations of the communication.”
The bank later issued a formal statement dated April 14, 2026:
“Dear customers, Centenary Bank acknowledges the complaint on customer account restriction on social media. We wish to inform the public that the bank’s action was within the requirement of the law following a directive by our regulator, who subsequently notified the customer of the same.
We would like to assure the public that these issues are always amicably resolved and we trust that once expectations of all parties are met, this will be closed duly. We remain committed to supporting our customers while ensuring that we comply with the law. Management.”
However, Atuhaire dismissed the bank’s explanation, accusing it of evading responsibility and attempting to mislead the public.
“Again, no one notified me. Stop stating it matter of factly, it’s very annoying to try to gaslight me and evade responsibility. Secondly, it was your obligation to notify me as my bank. Stop expecting the same government agency that’s acting illegally and with impunity to care about your customers’ convenience and livelihood!” she said.
Centenary Bank also responded directly to Byanyima, reiterating its earlier position:
“Dear Winnie Byanyima, we acknowledge the client’s feedback and would like to note that the bank’s action was within the requirements of the law following a communication by our regulator, who subsequently notified her of the same.”
Atuhaire, in turn, expressed gratitude for Byanyima’s support while detailing the personal impact of the account restriction:
“Thank you for the solidarity Winnie Byanyima. More than the shock at the unnecessary levels this regime is determined to go to, I was so disappointed in Centenary Bank. At the very least they owed me a notification. I had traveled and left the bank card behind to be used to buy my children food. As soon as I had left I was being told the card says there’s no money. I had to run to family and friends for my children not to starve in my absence!”
Centenary Bank, one of Uganda’s largest commercial banks, was established with roots in the Catholic Church, a heritage that Byanyima referenced in her criticism, suggesting the institution should uphold principles of justice and fairness.
REACTIONS
Why didn’t Centenary Bank inform its customer before or immediately upon freezing the customer’s bank account? Why would a bank rely on its regulator to do its work of informing the bank’s customer of ongoing restrictions on the customer’s account? Why was the bank giving social media the false impression—when the bank’s customer finally complained on social media—that it had informed her about the account restrictions whereas not? On the other hand, the idea of an amicable resolution of the matter is a good idea as long as it’s genuine and swift since Agather Atuhaire has already suffered enough. It is about time her account is unfrozen. The dispute comes amid growing scrutiny over account restrictions in Uganda involving NGOs and civil society leaders, with critics raising concerns about due process, transparency, and the role of financial institutions in enforcing regulatory directives. — Eron Kiiza, human rights lawyer and activist
Centenary Bank is regulated by Bank of Uganda. It cannot violate the standing instructions of the bank of Uganda. Centenary Bank has a legal department that advised it. I will give you a personal example: I do consultancies for the EAC Secretariat and when funds come into the company account they cannot be accessed until Bank of Uganda has verified the supporting documentation that is submitted through the bank where we hold accounts. This can at times extend to personal accounts if you are placed under politically exposed person (PEP). I do support Agatha but we can’t blame the bank for obeying standing orders of the regulator unless we want its license revoked. — Prof Venansius Baryamureeba, former presidential candidate
You can read more about the freezing of Agather Atuhaire’s account, as well as the freezing of accounts for several NGOs in Uganda Here.
As we have previously reported, Agather Atuhaire has faced troubles for her activism, including from top Ugandan politicians and other activists. From a Tanzanian officer attempting to force himself on her, to her exchanging fluids with an activist who dumped her, and to an ugly war of words with Uganda Law Society president Isaac Ssemakadde, Agather Atuhaire has been through a lot but she fights on. See Details Here, There, Over Here, and Over There.
However, Agather Atuhaire has been recognized by the EU and US as well as Time Magazine for her boldness. (See Details Here and There.
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