More than 400 business leaders, policymakers, investors, and regional integration experts have convened in Kampala for the 3rd Stanbic East Africa Business Summit, a premier platform focused on unlocking East Africa’s full economic potential through trade, investment, and collaboration.
Held under the theme “Connected & Resilient: Scaling East Africa’s Regional Advantage,” the two-day summit, hosted by Stanbic Bank Uganda and the Standard Bank Group, seeks to explore how deeper integration, infrastructure development, and financial innovation can accelerate sustainable growth across one of Africa’s fastest-growing regions.
Opening the summit, Hon. Okello Oryem, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of mobilising international finance to fund infrastructure, strengthen climate resilience, and expand technological innovation.
“We need to mobilise international finance, forge meaningful partnerships, and build public infrastructure,” said Minister Oryem. “This is important for East Africa, which, as a unified region, can present a stronger collective voice on the global stage.”
Mumba Kalifungwa, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Uganda, described the summit as a pivotal moment for East Africa’s economic transformation.
“This summit comes at a defining moment for our region,” Kalifungwa said. “Uganda, once considered landlocked, is fast transforming into a land-linked economy — investing in infrastructure, trade facilitation, and connectivity that allow goods, services, and opportunities to move seamlessly across borders.”
He emphasised Stanbic’s commitment to driving regional integration through cross-border financial solutions.
“Our shared future as a region will be defined by how well we connect to new opportunities, and to a common purpose,” he said. “As the region integrates, Stanbic’s role is to ensure that when businesses bank with us in Uganda, they are banking across East Africa — with the support and reach to grow into new markets.”
Patrick Mweheire, Outgoing Regional Chief Executive for East Africa at the Standard Bank Group, reflected on the summit’s evolution since its inception three years ago, noting its growing influence in shaping regional policy and business collaboration.
“What started as a conversation has become a movement — one that is helping to shape thinking, inform policy, and catalyse partnerships across our region,” Mweheire said.
He described East Africa as a vital pillar of the Group’s growth strategy, emphasising that the region’s young population, abundant natural resources, and advancing integration make it a major global economic contender.
“East Africa is not just another region for us. It is one of the most exciting and strategically important growth engines in our portfolio,” Mweheire stated. “It will shape Africa’s economic trajectory over the next two decades.”
However, he cautioned that realising this potential will require intentional leadership and investment. “Growth will not happen by accident — it will require collaborative leadership, deliberate investment, and bold action to navigate challenges like youth unemployment, access to affordable credit, and climate change,” he said. “I hand over not just a summit, but a growing community of leaders determined to unlock East Africa’s potential. Together, let us shape the next chapter of East Africa’s growth story.”
Now in its third edition, the Stanbic East Africa Business Summit has become a key convening point for regional dialogue. This year’s edition, held for the first time in Uganda, marks the transition of regional leadership as Dr Joshua Oigara assumes the role of Regional Chief Executive for East Africa at Standard Bank Group.
