CERBUGKA11-character variant (head office):
CERBUGKAXXXWhether funds come from abroad or another local account, here's how to receive — and what it costs.
Sender uses CERBUGKA + your account number.
Sender uses Wise, LemFi, or Sendwave to deposit into your account.
Receive into MTN MoMo, then move to Centenary Bank if needed.
Ugandan banks use a 9-digit account number with a 4-digit bank sort code; high-value transfers settle same-day over UNISS (RTGS) operated by the Bank of Uganda, with retail electronic funds transfer (EFT) for smaller amounts.
Money in a Ugandan bank account can move to MTN MoMo, Airtel Money or Wave wallets via the bank's mobile app or USSD push, and cash-out at any of the wallet operator's agent networks. Note: cashing out hits Uganda's 0.5% URA mobile-money withdrawal levy, while wallet-to-wallet payments do not.
Rail operator: www.bou.or.ug
When you actually need a SWIFT code: only for receiving money from another country. RTGS / EFT handles every domestic uganda bank-to-bank, bank-to-wallet, and wallet-to-bank transfer at near-instant speed. If the sender is in the same country, SWIFT isn't involved at all — they just need your bank sort code + account number or phone number.
For inbound international flows, RTGS / EFT also matters: most modern remittance operators (Wise, Sendwave, LemFi, WorldRemit, TapTap Send) terminate their payouts via this rail rather than via correspondent SWIFT relationships. That's how they deliver in minutes instead of days — and why their all-in cost can be a fraction of a classic SWIFT wire.
Cash pickup is the fourth node in the receiving graph: Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, RemitOne. These remain expensive but are the only option in some last-mile situations (no bank account, no wallet, urgent cash need). Mobile money cash-out via an agent network is increasingly the cheaper alternative — see our country mobile-money fee page for current cash-out rates.
One practical tip: if you're expecting a payment from abroad, ask the sender to choose the destination based on speed and amount. Small frequent payments below US$1,000 are almost always cheaper via a remittance app to your wallet. Mid-size payments (US$1,000–10,000) work well to your bank account via the same apps. Genuinely large payments (above US$50,000) are usually only practical via a SWIFT wire, even though they're the most expensive per dollar at that band.
| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| CERB | UG | KA |
| Centenary Bank | UG (Uganda) | Kampala |
An 11-character variant like CERBUGKAXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'CERBUGKA001') refer to specific branches.
Check any SWIFT/BIC code is correctly formatted before a transfer.
vs UGX (Ugandan Shilling)
Centenary Bank is Uganda's largest indigenous commercial bank by customer count and a leader in microfinance and agricultural lending. Founded in 1983 by the Uganda National Lay Apostolate as Centenary Rural Development Trust, it became a fully licensed commercial bank in 1993. Owned by Ugandan religious institutions and diaspora investors, it operates over 80 branches with strong rural penetration and a flagship agent-banking network — particularly important for diaspora senders supporting family upcountry, where larger banks have thinner coverage.
44-46 Burton Street, Mapeera House, Kampala
Centenary Rural Development Bank Limited — Uganda's commercial bank (founded 1983) — has the SWIFT/BIC code CERBUGKA. The 8-character base BIC CERBUGKA targets the Kampala head office; the 11-character variant CERBUGKAXXX names that same head office explicitly. You only need it for receiving an INTERNATIONAL wire (from another country). For transfers from another Uganda account, you just use your account number plus the domestic rail (RTGS / EFT).
Yes. Operators like WorldRemit, Sendwave, Afriex, and Flutterwave Send let a sender abroad deposit directly into MTN MoMo without going through your Centenary Bank account. It's usually faster and cheaper than a SWIFT wire for smaller amounts. You can then move funds to Centenary Bank via RTGS / EFT if needed.
Via Uganda National Interbank Settlement System (UNISS) and EFT, which interconnects banks and wallets in real time. From the Centenary Bank app: add MTN MoMo as a beneficiary with your phone number, and the transfer arrives instantly. See our Uganda mobile money fees page for the exact cost.
For amounts under ~US$5,000, a remittance app (Wise, LemFi, Sendwave) depositing direct to your Centenary Bank account is almost always cheaper than a classic SWIFT wire — lower fees and a rate closer to mid-market. For larger amounts, compare SWIFT vs app on our Uganda inbound transfer comparison.
Yes. Centenary Bank is connected to Uganda National Interbank Settlement System (UNISS) and EFT, which enables near-instant transfers to other Uganda banks and to mobile money wallets (MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Wave). This is the infrastructure remittance apps use behind the scenes to deliver in real time.
Source: Centenary Bank's official website + Wise SWIFT directory. Last verified: 2026-06-18. SWIFT codes change rarely but always confirm with your bank before initiating a transfer. Educational only — not financial advice.