NCBA Bank Uganda, MAC East Africa Launch School Bus Loans

In Short

• NCBA Bank Uganda and MAC East Africa have launched a school bus financing partnership.
• Eligible schools can access up to 100% financing for bus purchases.
• Repayment periods can run up to 72 months, which is six years.

What Happened

NCBA Bank Uganda and MAC East Africa have launched a school bus financing partnership aimed at helping schools buy buses with credit. The programme offers up to 100% financing, meaning a school may be able to borrow the full cost of a bus instead of paying a deposit upfront.

According to the announcement, the repayment period can stretch to 72 months. That is a longer-term loan structure that spreads monthly payments over more time, which can reduce cash flow pressure for schools.

The partnership is positioned as an asset finance offer. Asset finance is a loan tied to a specific item, in this case a school bus, and the bus is usually part of the lender’s security if repayments fail.

Why It Matters

School transport is a major operating cost and a safety concern across many Ugandan schools, especially those serving growing urban and peri-urban populations. Access to structured bus financing can help schools replace older vehicles, standardise fleets, and expand routes without waiting to raise full capital.

For NCBA Bank Uganda, the partnership is a play for predictable, long-tenor lending in education. For MAC East Africa, it can increase bus sales by reducing the upfront price barrier and moving schools from one-off purchases to planned fleet upgrades.

If uptake is strong, similar bus financing models could extend into other institutional transport needs, including staff shuttles and community transport services.