Several questions arose during implementation, which the BOU has compiled into Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). These FAQs are intended to address and provide clarity of the abovementioned credit relief measures, and their application. For any inquiries, questions or feedback, contact BOU on the following emails crfeedback@bou.or.ug or fcem@bou.or.ug
- What does Credit Relief mean? It is a re-scheduling of a debt obligation such as a loan which provides a borrower with some form of relief in how and/or when they meet their debt obligation(s) to lenders.
- What is the key Objective of Credit Relief Measures? The Credit Relief Measures have two key objectives: (i) To enable borrowers to deal with the unfavourable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their ability to repay loans; and (ii) To reduce the risks faced by lenders as a result of exposure to borrowers that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Does credit relief mean that the responsibility of the borrower to repay their loan has been removed? It is important to note that credit relief DOES NOT take away the responsibility of a borrower to repay the lender. All borrowers are expected to continue servicing their loan obligations and are encouraged to contact their lenders and apply for credit relief if they face any COVID-19 related challenges that may impact their ability to pay their loans.
- For how long will the credit relief and loan restructuring program be in force? Granting of these credit relief measures by a Supervised Financial Institution (SFI) to its customers will be in effect for 12 months; from April 01, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Credit relief can be processed for any length of time from one (1) day up to 12 months.
- How many times can a credit facility be restructured during this period? Any loan affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can be updated up to two (2) times in the 12 month period effective April 01, 2020, to March 31, 2021. This is irrespective of the number of times it has been restructured in the past. However, any additional restructuring beyond the allowable two (2), must be applied for and approved by BOU.
- What type of loans is eligible for credit relief? All loans and or credit facilities in all sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for credit relief. However, the credit relief applies ONLY to loans whose agreement was signed and completed by the borrower and lender before March 31, 2020. All loans or credit facilities classified as “loss” as at March 31, 2020, are not eligible. In addition, the credit relief measures DO NOT apply to credit facilities approved and or granted after April 01, 2020.
- Who is eligible to benefit from the credit relief measures? All borrowers (corporate entities, individuals, businesses and households) that have been or will be negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can benefit by approaching their lender and applying for any of the allowable exceptional credit relief measures. However, Financial Institutions are also allowed to make unsolicited offers for restructuring credit facilities that in their assessment might be subject to default risk as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic
- What credit relief and loan restructuring options are offered to borrowers? After assessing the impact of COVID-19 on a borrower’s cash flows during and post the COVID-19 period, a Financial Institution can grant the following Credit relief options either individually or in combination:- (i) A suspension or reduction on the repayment of principal and or interest, applicable to the outstanding principal loan amount, (ii) Extension of the loan repayment period. (iii) Reduction of interest rate on the loan. (iv) Other forms of loan rearrangement provided for under the regulations.
- If a loan is restructured such that the given credit relief (e.g. extension of loan repayment period) ends after the 12 months from April 01, 2020, how is this treated? The provisions in the credit relief guidelines shall apply to any facility restructured between April 01, 2020, and before March 31, 2021, and remain in force for that facility until the date that the credit relief ends, or as advised by Bank of Uganda.
- What if a Financial Institution does not accept the request of the borrower for credit relief? In such a case, the Financial Institution shall explain in writing or some other acceptable format to the borrower, the reasons for the said refusal. The records of denials shall be kept by the Financial Institution in a format that BOU can access at a later date.
- How will interest be treated if borrowers are granted credit relief e.g. deferred principal loan payments?
Interest on the credit facility whose repayment was suspended during the credit relief, maybe accrued, capitalized and amortized (spread) over the revised tenor (e.g the remaining period after the moratorium, or additional loan extension period) of the credit facility, on condition that the periodic payments during and after the restructuring do not exceed those the borrower had contracted to make, prior to the restructuring. The SFI can achieve this by extending the loan tenor, reducing the interest rate applicable, forfeiting accrued interest or arrears etc.
For example, if a term loan was being amortized with a monthly repayment of UGX 1.5million before a moratorium, the monthly loan repayments after the moratorium CANNOT exceed UGX 1.5million, inclusive of the accrued interest and or arrears if applicable. The exception is where the borrower(s) offers to pay higher instalments and there is documented consent to this effect.
- Will borrowers have heavier repayment burdens after the expiry of the credit relief? No, a customer benefiting from the credit relief shall not be required to make heavier repayment instalments on their credit facility after its restructuring, than what was being paid before the credit relief. Unless the customer offers to pay higher instalments or decides to settle the credit facility earlier and there must be documented evidence to this effect.
- Will the borrower be responsible for covering the costs and fees of obtaining credit relief from an SFI?
Borrowers obtaining credit relief shall only be liable for stamp duty and any legal fees thereof. Financial Institutions shall ensure and demonstrate that the said legal fees are reasonable. All other costs and fees associated with this credit relief program during the 12-month period shall not be passed onto borrowers.
- Will the borrowers whose facilities, whether restructured or not, be liable for penal interest or fees in the next 12 months from April 01, 2020?
No penalty interest or fees shall be charged, accrued and/or earned on any credit facility restructured in the next 12 months from April 01, 2020. Credit facilities not restructured in this 12-month period, may, at the discretion of the SFI, be liable to the application of penal interest. However, BOU advises SFIs to reconsider the application of penal interest or fees to any credit facility during the abovementioned 12 month period.
- Will the granting of credit relief affect the credit classification and provisioning of that facility? While the restructuring of a credit facility/loan would normally require that it changes classification status e.g from performing to non-performing, any credit relief measure or restructuring event granted in the 12 months from April 01, 2020, shall not affect the credit classification status and loan loss provisioning amount or percentage for the credit facility/borrower. In addition, the period of a repayment moratorium shall be excluded by SFIs, when counting the days past due for a credit facility that benefits from the said moratorium.
- What if the borrower fails to meet the periodic loan instalments after the facility is restructured?If the borrower fails to meet the revised periodic repayments after restructuring, then the credit facility will be subject to the normal classification and provisioning regulations. In other words, the loan performance with respect to its rescheduled repayments shall be subject to the normal credit classification and provisioning regulations.
- Do these measures have any implications for loans due for the write-off? Bank of Uganda extended the period for the write-off of credit facilities classified as “loss” as at March 31, 2020, by 180 days, as long as the original write-off date was due to fall within the 12 month period from April 01, 2020.
- Will the credit relief measures affect the Credit risk status of the borrower and reporting to the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB)? The credit relief measures are not an adverse change in the risk profile of the borrower, and therefore have no effect on the credit risk status of the said borrower and therefore should not be reported as an adverse or negative event to the CRB.
- Will the credit relief measures apply to financing schemes such as the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF)? The applicability of these credit relief measures to financing schemes such as ACF depends on the terms of the scheme. However, any credit relief to a borrower under the ACF shall be within its terms and conditions, where possible.
- How will rescheduling/or deferment of payment happen in a syndicated loan? For a syndicated loan, the borrower will submit their request for credit relief to the syndicate lead Bank. The lead Bank will then coordinate with other lenders to make an appropriate joint decision. However, subject to the terms of the syndication agreement, and if so allowed, a Financial Institution therein can make an individual decision with respect to its exposure within the syndicated loan.
- Are borrowers required to consent to any proposed restructuring? All borrowers MUST explicitly consent to any credit relief provided to them, whatever the form or nature of this relief.
- Do borrowers have to sign revised documents to implement the credit relief measures? For any credit relief to take effect, sign off by the borrower is not a pre-condition, but consent, in whatever form or format is.
For borrowers unable to be physically present at the time the credit relief measures are put in place, their consent can be in the form of;
- A recorded telephone conversation wherein explicit consent is provided;
- An acceptance by email; or some other digital or electronic format.
The SFIs must then store these consents in electronic or digital format, and update the necessary paperwork/documentation once the borrower can physically be available.
In the event that the borrower or their representative neglects or refrains from physically presenting him or herself to sign off the necessary documentation when circumstances allow him or her to do so, the Financial Institution can proceed to compel him or her to appear in person for the sign-off. It should be noted that failure to regularize a restructuring that has been consented to electronically or digitally by a borrower, does not extinguish the debt, but certainly introduces doubt as to its recoverability.
- Can SFIs extend new credit facilities during the COVID-19 period? Supervised Financial Institutions (SFIs) are encouraged to extend new credit to eligible borrowers but must take into consideration the economic conditions and operational realities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and those that might be reasonably expected to hold in the post lockdown and post-pandemic period.
All regulations and prudential guidelines with respect to risk management, except those suspended by BOU in the Guidelines for Credit Relief measures, remain in force.
Bank of Uganda remains committed to monitoring the evolution of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and designing appropriate and prudent measures to support the economy.
Dr. Tumubweine Twinemanzi
, Director Supervision – Bank of Uganda
