Equity Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to catalysing trade and investment in Uganda and across Africa by hosting a high-level Investors’ Trade Mission at the Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala.
The event, held under the theme “Exploring Trade & Investment Opportunities in Uganda”, brought together investors and industry leaders from across the globe to explore business partnerships in the Pearl of Africa.
In his welcome remarks, Gift Shoko, Managing Director of Equity Bank Uganda, emphasised Uganda’s position as a prime investment destination and reaffirmed the bank’s role as a catalyst for regional economic growth.
“I strongly believe Uganda is one of the best, if not the best, investment destinations in Africa—and even among many developing economies,” said Shoko. “We are proud to host you. Equity Bank plays a key role in catalysing investments and trends, not just in East Africa but across the continent. We want Africa to present itself boldly as a global investment destination.”
Shoko introduced his leadership team and board members, stressing their commitment to supporting every investor participating in the mission. He noted that the trade missions, which began in 2021 through Equity Group’s regional strategy, have already facilitated significant cross-border business linkages.
“Equity Bank Uganda is a wholly owned subsidiary of Equity Group, and these missions began in Kenya. For Uganda, we joined last year. But our team has already helped connect businesses across Uganda, the DRC, and Tanzania,” he explained.
The event drew investors from Ethiopia, Dubai, Kenya, Egypt, the DRC, and Sri Lanka, with interests spanning agriculture, manufacturing, mining, water engineering, petroleum, logistics, ICT, and health.
Regional Investment Catalyst
Christine Mukasa-Mugerwa, the Senior Sector Head for Corporate Banking – Mining & Extractives and Acting Head of Corporate Banking at Equity Bank Uganda, spoke about the bank’s vision and capacity to drive economic transformation through sustainable investment facilitation.
“At Equity, we aim to be the champion of the socio-economic prosperity of the people of Africa,” said Mugerwa. “Whether you’re a corporate, MSME, or an individual entrepreneur, our model supports you across the entire value chain.”
She emphasised the bank’s comprehensive reach and its unique approach to supporting investors not just with financial services, but through a holistic ecosystem that includes digital banking, advisory, and social impact initiatives.
“We offer trade missions like this one not just to finance businesses, but to create real connections between people, ideas, and opportunities. We are the only bank offering this kind of investor support structure,” she said.
Highlighting the bank’s regional footprint, Mugerwa revealed that Equity Group now serves over 200 million customers across East Africa with an expansive network of 44,000 agents and 22 branches in Uganda alone. This wide reach, she said, enables even remote entrepreneurs to access modern financial tools and markets.
She pointed out five strategic sectors driving Uganda’s investment landscape: agriculture, tourism, oil & gas, extractives and mining, and technology/innovation. “Agriculture contributes 24% of Uganda’s GDP, and tourism is a high-return sector. From eco-tourism to medical tourism, there’s vast potential for growth,” she said, adding that Uganda’s youthful population is fueling innovation, particularly in the fintech space.
Mugerwa also called attention to Uganda’s extractives sector, including ongoing oil production developments, as a major magnet for foreign capital. She encouraged delegates to explore opportunities through one-on-one sessions with the bank’s sector heads—ranging from public infrastructure and health to trade, telecoms, education, and energy.
“When we support your enterprise, we support the communities around it. Our goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem—not just provide a loan,” she said.
Local Business in the Spotlight
Yesterday, the delegation of over 40 global investors toured Newman’s Foods Ltd, a Kampala-based agro-processing company that exports organic produce to Europe. The company’s CEO, Nasser Segujja, shared his journey of resilience and growth, attributing part of his success to support from Equity Bank.
“We found a market in Europe because there are many Africans in the diaspora who crave organic food from home,” said Segujja. “After COVID, we were struggling with cash flow and couldn’t meet payroll. Equity came through for us when other financial institutions wouldn’t. Within two months, we had the funding we needed at an affordable rate. I’m truly grateful.”
Newman’s Foods initially focused on exporting fresh produce, such as hot peppers, green chillies, and eggplants, to cities like Frankfurt, Zurich, and London, before expanding into branded consumer foods for local and regional markets. Power instability remains a challenge, but the company is investing in solar solutions to cut diesel dependency.
