Inaugural Mkutano Conference to Focus on Investment Opportunities

The inaugural Mkutano Investment Conference is looking to discuss the role of capital markets in sustaining economic development.

Organizers say debate will focus on the four factors that facilitate the capital markets, namely; enabling policies, flexible investment capital, entrepreneurship, use of technology to enhance efficiency and innovative products.

The conference is due to take place on Tuesday May 15 at Kampala Serena Hotel Conference Centre.

Ahead of the event, Mr David Ofungi, Founder and CEO of DERO, the curators of Economic Mkutano conference said the Mkutano “serves to facilitate open debate in which conclusions enable us to script our own economic story in a manner that fosters inclusive growth”.

He adds that the discussion is appropriate at a time when headwinds are challenging business convention in the Uganda private sector.

“In the public realm, we need to reassess the means via which we fund infrastructure and other enablers of enterprise,” he says.

Mr Keith Kalyegira, the Chief Executive Officer, Capital Markets Authority, said reference to Capital market financing is essentially market based or non-bank financing in all its forms that is equity (private and public), and debt typically without recourse to the assets of the debt issuer.

“Unlike bank financing which is provided by short term deposits or savings with banks, market based financing is provided by long term individual and institutional domestic and foreign savers like pension funds, university endowment funds, and other forms of contractual savings,” he said.

Mr Kalyegira explains that just like governments, businesses need long term patient capital in order to implement medium to long term growth strategies, which are the source of jobs, exports and taxes.

“That is why we continually encourage and lead discussions that facilitate the accumulation and use of savings in production by the private sector – the Mkutano is one such discussion,” Mr Kalyegira says.

Organised under the theme ‘Priming the Economy for inclusive growth via the Capital Markets’the inaugural Economic Mkutano 2018 will bring together the whole spectrum of market participants from investment clubs and regulated financial institutions to tech evangelists explaining the economic opportunity that blockchain holds.

Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime- Mutebile, the governor Bank of Uganda will be the chief guest at the gathering which will feature renown business man and former CEO of Old Mutual South African, Mr. Sello Moloko.

Mr Moloko is the Executive Chairman of THESELE INVESTMENTS and the Chairman of Sibanye-Stillwater, the largest individual producer of gold in South Africa. He was CEO of Old Mutual South Africa and until September 2017, served as Chairman of Alexander Forbes.

He is also a former director of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and listed companies Gold Fields, Makalani Holdings, Acucap Properties and Sycom Property Fund.
Mr. Moloko combines capital market experience as a fund manager, executive and as a successful investor.

Featuring alongside him is Dr. Layi Fatona is CEO of Niger Delta Petroleum, Africa’s most diversified oil and gas company. He is the Chairman of Geotrex Systems Limited and Skye Financial Services Limited.

Dr. Layi’s story is one of entreprenueral resilience having built a start-up into arguably one of the most respected indigenous oil and gas companies in Africa.

There will be several key note speakers and panels discussing different sub themes moderated by Mr Joel Kibazo, former managing director FTI Consulting and former journalist with Financial Times and BBC.