KAMPALA, Uganda — Equity Bank Uganda has commissioned its fourth cohort of 100 students into the Equity Leaders’ Program, bringing the total number of Ugandan scholars in the program to 419, the bank announced Saturday.

The Equity Leaders Program offers paid internships, mentorship, coaching, and support for students pursuing higher education both in Uganda and internationally. The program selects students based on their Uganda Advanced Certification of Education examination results.

The initiative is run by the Equity Group across Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and DR Congo through the Equity Group Foundation. It aims to empower academically gifted young scholars with leadership skills and professional networks.

Equity Bank Uganda Managing Director Gift Shoko said the program provides young people with valuable exposure to the corporate world and nurtures their potential to contribute to socio-economic transformation.

Speaking on behalf of Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi, the foundation’s Director of Operations Dr. Joanne Korir said the new cohort represents a generation that will advance societal transformation through leadership based on integrity, innovation, and service.

Equity Group Foundation Board Director Sam Bwaya encouraged the scholars to live lives of service and seek to impact their communities.

The bank said that 29 scholars from the program’s initial cohort in Uganda graduated in January 2025, with some now employed by the bank and others pursuing careers elsewhere.

The Equity Leaders Program has facilitated full university scholarships to global institutions and paid internships for its participants. To date, 970 scholars have been admitted to 233 universities across 37 countries, including 204 at Ivy League universities.

Scholars in the program undertake a 3- to 6-month paid internship with Equity Bank, receiving a monthly stipend and gaining experience across various departments. They also receive mentorship and college counseling.

The Equity Leaders Program, founded in 1998, has benefited 29,515 university scholars, providing 9,700 paid internships.

Equity Group Foundation, the social engine of Equity Group Holdings Plc, aims to transform the lives and livelihoods of 100 million people in Africa by 2030 through programs in education, agriculture, health, financial inclusion, and other areas.