Stanbic partners with Buganda Land Board to finance land title acquisition

Buganda Land Board and Stanbic Bank officials
Buganda Land Board managing director, Kyewalabye Male (L), Stanbic Bank chief executive, Patrick Mweheire and Stanbic Bank head of home loans, Jackson Emanzi address the media during the launch of Kyapa Loans. Credit: Uganda Business News

Stanbic Bank has launched a partnership with the Buganda Land Board to provide an affordable financing solution to enable bibanja holders acquire land titles.

The solution dubbed Kyapa Loans is aimed at simplifying land title acquisition by bibanja holders whose land has already been surveyed by the Buganda Land Board but lacked the resources to pay for their land titles.

While addressing the press at the Stanbic Head offices, Stanbic Bank’s chief executive, Patrick Mweheire said: “Our partnership with the Buganda land board is a significant step that will enable Ugandan’s realize their dreams through asset acquisition.

“Our preposition will allow tenants on Buganda kingdom land to get proper leasehold titles which will allow them to further access additional funding from the bank when used as collateral.”

Mr Mweheire said that owning a home is a decision every Ugandan makes only once in their lifetime and that it should therefore be made affordable and accessible.

“There are only 10,000 mortgages in Uganda compared to Kenya’s 300,000. In fact from a Stanbic Bank perspective, our non-performing loans ratio on mortgages is the lowest on our entire portfolio which basically means these customers are servicing their loans.

“In addition, when it comes to land ownership, Uganda has about 40.8 million land titles. It is products like Kyapa Loans that will boost land and home ownership in this country,” he said.

Mr Mweheire added: “With a leading customer loan portfolio of Shs2.2 trillion, Stanbic has been a key enabler of growth through providing cheaper and affordable sources of credit at the lowest interest rates in the market.”

The product is targeting all bibanja holders who wish to add value to their land by acquiring land titles issued through the Government of Uganda.

The Stanbic Home Loans Manager, Jackson Emanzi affirmed Ugandans now have an opportunity to acquire land titles using an affordable land financing solution. “As a bank, we have now gone further down the ecosystem to accord those with residences on Kabaka’s land with the financing to allow them process land titles through our new partnership with Buganda Land Board,” he said.

“Under this arrangement, the bibanja holders will approach the Buganda Land Board’s Lease Access Financing initiative offices to survey and authenticate their land. After which they will be issued with Letter of recommendation to the bank and invoice of total cost which is presented to the bank for financing.” Emanzi added.

The Buganda Land Board Managing Director, Kyewalabye Male said: “We are grateful for this partnership with Stanbic Bank. The Buganda Land Board has the Lease Access Financing Initiative that coordinates the process and tenants can approach the LAFI offices to pay the survey and registration fees after which, the Buganda Land Board helps the tenants to survey and prepare the necessary documentation like the invoice and letter of recommendation which are presented to the bank for loan approval.”

The funds granted by the bank under this scheme primarily enable one to acquire their lease hold title but can still get more funds as equity release or fund house completion/renovation.

The solution is available to both salaried and self-employed (business) customers and grants repayment periods of up to 24 months at the best interest rates in the market with the entire loan acquisition process not longer than 48 hours.

About Stanbic Bank Uganda
Stanbic Bank Uganda is a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets. Standard Bank Group reported total assets of R1,98 trillion (about USD128 billion) at 31 December 2015, while its market capitalisation was R184 billion (about USD11,8 billion).

The group has direct, on-the-ground representation in 20 African countries. Standard Bank Group has 1 221 branches and 8 815 ATMs in Africa, making it one of the largest banking networks on the continent. It provides global connections backed by deep insights into the countries where it operates.

Stanbic Bank Uganda provides the full spectrum of financial services. Its Corporate & Investment Banking division serves a wide range of requirements for banking, finance, trading, investment, risk management and advisory services. Corporate & Investment Banking delivers this comprehensive range of products and services relating to: investment banking; global markets; and global transactional products and services.

Stanbic Bank Uganda personal & business banking unit offers banking and other financial services to individuals and small-to-medium enterprises. This unit serves the increasing need among Africa’s small business and individual customers for banking products that can meet their shifting expectations and growing wealth.

For further information go to www.stanbicbank.co.ug

Issued by WMC Africa on behalf of Stanbic Bank Uganda