The East Africa Capital Markets Conference (EACMC 2025) has marked a historic milestone with the official launch of the EAE 20 Share Index, a new regional benchmark designed to track the performance of the top 20 listed companies across East Africa.
The landmark unveiling took place at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel during the opening session of the two-day conference, hosted by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE).
Representing the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, the Commissioner at the Ministry, Moses Ogwapus, officiated as the guest of honour. In his remarks, he underscored Uganda’s focus on transforming its economy from USD 53.9 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040, emphasising the vital role of domestic capital mobilisation and long-term productive investment.
“The launch of the EAE 20 Share Index is a clear step forward in enhancing market visibility, investor confidence, and regional integration,” Ogwapus said, adding that Uganda’s capital markets hold immense potential as the country advances its structural transformation under the National Development Plan IV.
Driving Regional Integration Through Markets
The EAE 20 Share Index represents a significant stride in regional market integration, providing investors, analysts, and policymakers with a single metric to assess the collective performance of East Africa’s most influential listed companies. It is expected to deepen cross-border investment flows, improve transparency, and position the East African region as a unified investment destination.
Opening the conference under the theme “Shaping East Africa’s Capital Markets through Digital Transformation & Sustainable Finance,” CMA Uganda Board Chairperson Mr Saul Sseremba said the index symbolised a shift from “conversation to collaboration” across the region.
“Our goal is clear: to make Uganda’s capital markets the engine room of long-term, inclusive economic growth. Integration is no longer optional—it is imperative. Capital markets are not just about finance; they are about the future,” Sseremba noted.
CMA Chief Executive Officer Ms Josephine Okui Ossiya emphasised that technology is central to transforming the region’s markets.
“Technology is not a side project but the core enabler of market growth. Investing should be as simple as sending a mobile money text,” Ossiya said. “Through the CMA Regulatory Sandbox, we are creating space to test new products and smarter investor–capital linkages under adaptive regulation.”
Private Sector Leaders Call for Innovation and Inclusion
NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota urged regional leaders to rethink savings incentives and explore innovative financing models such as tokenised infrastructure projects.
“Our market is big, but much potential remains untapped. We need to rethink how we incentivise savings and investments. Have we thought about tokenising the Kampala–Jinja Expressway? Infrastructure like highways can become new avenues for capital access,” Ayota remarked.
He drew parallels with the humble beginnings of the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, calling on East African markets to learn from their resilience and innovation.
Technology and Accessibility at the Core
USE CEO Paul Bwiso and USE Board Director Samuel Mwogeza both emphasised the transformative impact of digital innovation on regional capital markets.
“Technology is transforming how capital markets operate across East Africa, making investment more inclusive and accessible than ever before,” Bwiso said, noting that the USE Easy Portal and digital account opening through MTN and Airtel are bringing markets “directly to the palm of every citizen’s hand.”
Mwogeza added that innovation and sustainability are now inseparable from the growth agenda:“This year’s theme is not just a theme—it is a challenge and a call. The future belongs to those who dare to innovate,” he said.
Regional Collaboration Strengthened
The 2025 conference also welcomed the National Securities Exchange of Somalia and the Ethiopian Securities Exchange as new members of the East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA)—a milestone that reinforces the association’s commitment to regional integration and market development.
A high-level panel featuring CEOs from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Central Depository & Settlement Corporation (CDSC) Kenya explored the future of East Africa’s capital markets, highlighting innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity as drivers of growth.
The EAE 20 Share Index now stands as a unifying symbol of regional ambition—positioning East Africa’s capital markets for a future defined by digital transformation, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
