Pearl Bank, a Ugandan bank aiming to foster prosperity for its citizens, has won the inaugural PR Crown Jewel Award at the 10th Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) Excellence Awards. The award ceremony was held at the Source of the Nile Hotel in Jinja on October 23, 2026. This prestigious award recognizes the bank's successful rebranding journey from PostBank Uganda to Pearl Bank and its effective communication strategy.
The PR Crown Jewel Award is a judges' choice distinction that does not require a formal entry and is the second-highest honor after the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was introduced during PRAU's 50th anniversary celebrations, marking five decades of public relations practice in Uganda. Pearl Bank was selected as the first recipient of this award after the judges evaluated submissions across various categories.
The award was presented by Owek. Alhaji Osman Noor Ahmed, the Second Deputy Prime Minister of Obwa Kyabazinga Bwa Busoga, who commended the winners and participants for promoting PR excellence. He also congratulated PRAU on its Golden Jubilee Anniversary and acknowledged the crucial role of strategic communication in influencing policy, shaping narratives, and promoting socio-economic development.
In addition to the PR Crown Jewel Award, Pearl Bank won three Gold Standard Awards in Media Relations and the Corporate Storytellers Award, as well as the Impact Beyond Profit Award for its social impact work. The bank also received a silver award in the Culture Champions category. These multiple wins recognize the bank's communication campaigns across brand transition, media engagement, employee culture, and social responsibility.
Pearl Bank's media coverage increased significantly, with 498 stories in 2025, a 41% rise from 353 stories in 2024. The bank's share of voice in banking coverage reached 10.2% in 2025 and 12% in 2026. The Corporate Storytellers Award recognized the bank's campaign, "The Trust Transition: The Name Changed. The Trust Didn't," which effectively communicated the change in the bank's identity while emphasizing continuity in customer relationships and services.
Pearl Bank's Head of Marketing and Communications, Priscilla Akora, noted that this recognition is a testament to the bank's strategic use of communication to engage stakeholders and deliver the right message to its audiences. The bank's partnership with the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) to support Uganda's bone marrow transplant capacity was also recognized, with Pearl Bank contributing Shs200 million towards the project.
The 10th PRAU Excellence Awards formed part of the association's Golden Jubilee celebrations, themed "Celebrating 50 Years of Professional Excellence, Shaping the Future of Public Relations." The ceremony brought together public relations practitioners and industry stakeholders to recognize excellence in strategic communication, with Pearl Bank's inaugural PR Crown Jewel Award being a standout recognition of the evening.
Key points
- Pearl Bank won the inaugural PR Crown Jewel Award at the 10th PRAU Excellence Awards.
- The award recognizes the bank's successful rebranding journey and effective communication strategy.
- Pearl Bank also won multiple other awards, including Gold Standard Awards in Media Relations and the Corporate Storytellers Award.
